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Anyone who follows a skin care routine to help address dark spots knows that it isn’t for the weak. There isn’t an instant fix when it comes to evening out stubborn hyperpigmentation. Yet, even with all of the exfoliating treatments and skin brightening products available, it seems like turmeric soap is having a huge resurgence. But does it actually work? To find out, I used turmeric soap for 30 days to test its ability to fade dark spots and spoke with dermatologists to learn more about its benefits.
How I tested
Original image by Glamour contributor Jamie Wilson
Original image by Glamour contributor Jamie Wilson
As someone with melanin-rich, acne-prone, and combination skin, fading dark spots and addressing hyperpigmentation is always top of mind in my skin care routine. I’ve tried both in-office and at-home chemical peels, exfoliating serums and masks, as well as other products that include brightening and exfoliating ingredients. So, I was naturally curious to see if a simple turmeric soap would be as effective or even make a change in keeping my dark spots away.
Quynh-Giao Sartor, a dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Houston, Texas, personally uses and recommends Kora Organics Turmeric Glow Cleanser Daily ($46). But I opted for the Aspen Kay Naturals Turmeric Soap from Amazon ($19). It was important to test a product that was not formulated with other dark spot fading ingredients like kojic acid which was present in many other turmeric soaps. This way, I would be able to tell if it was the turmeric at work instead of the other well-studied skin brightening ingredients. This natural turmeric soap includes organic turmeric root powder, organic turmeric root extract, and 100% pure turmeric root essential oil. It's made to be safe for all skin types including dry skin and sensitive skin.
While testing I didn’t use any other lightening or dark spot treatments, and I used the turmeric soap as a face wash once a day, making sure to adequately hydrate and moisturize my skin after use.
Can turmeric soap brighten skin?
Although turmeric soap isn’t known to be a conventional method for fading dark spots and hyperpigmentation in western skin care practices, “it can be a good option for those considering holistic treatments for inflammatory conditions or hyperpigmentation, especially if the standard ingredients are not well tolerated,” says Dr. Sartor. Basically, if you have sensitive skin and can’t tolerate chemicals or harsh ingredients then turmeric soap is a great alternative. But with anything in skin care it’s always best to manage expectations. Dr. Sartor points out that there’s very little evidence in the way of clinical studies on turmeric soap to confirm major skin brightening benefits. So while turmeric soap might work for some, it might not be the fix that everyone is looking for, and it’s definitely not going to be a quick fix.
Does turmeric soap help with hyperpigmentation?
So, how does turmeric stack up to the traditional skin care ingredients that can fade dark spots, brighten, and exfoliate? “Because it has not been extensively studied in dermatology, turmeric is a less conventional ingredient for fading dark spots,” says Dr. Sartor. Most of us are used to popular exfoliating ingredients like AHAs and BHAs for fading hyperpigmentation. Other popular ingredients like hydroquinone, tranexamic acid, kojic acid, retinoid acid, niacinamide, ascorbic acid, and vitamin C have been well studied and understood to help with evening skin tone and addressing discoloration. However, while studies aren’t available at the same level as conventional ingredients it doesn't mean there isn’t some truth to turmeric soap being beneficial.
What are there benefits to using turmeric soap?
Along with claims of brightening, there are other better-known skin care benefits for turmeric and turmeric soap. “Turmeric contains curcumin, which has been studied and used widely in wound care,” says Dr. Sartor. So this ingredient can potentially be helpful in speeding up the healing of any acne scars from picking at breakouts and blemishes or compromised areas on your skin. “It has been shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agent, making it excellent in soaps and cleansers.” Having anti-inflammatory properties and anti-microbial properties are a definite benefit when addressing some forms of acne and other skin conditions too which can make it a great face soap or body soap to generally achieve glowing skin. So although the claims of brightening and fading dark spots with turmeric soap isn’t robust, it does have other proven skin care benefits that are worth exploring. “Turmeric soaps are great for treatment and prevention of radiation dermatitis as well as chronic inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis and acne rosacea.”
Can turmeric soap lighten or fade dark spots?
As Dr. Sartor mentions, there are in fact skin care benefits in turmeric soap especially when it comes to the treatment of acne and other inflammatory skin conditions. However, the main ingredient responsible for these benefits doesn’t necessarily work to brighten or even out skin tone. “There is limited clinical evidence suggesting that curcumin in turmeric can lighten hyperpigmentation and improve the appearance of fine lines through its inhibition of melanin synthesis and antioxidant potential,” she says.
The final verdict
My results were in line with what Dr. Sartor’s insights suggested. While this soap had a great lather, and includes natural ingredients, I didn’t notice a significant change when it came to the fading of dark spots or hyperpigmentation on my skin. After a month of testing, I did however, notice a slight reduction in the oiliness around my t-zone. So although I will likely still stick to my trusted AHAs and BHAs to address dark spots, the benefits of turmeric soap for the face could be present in other ways when it comes to skin care, especially if you have sensitive skin.
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