Turmeric Cream: Safe, Easy Relief for Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that causes patches of red, inflamed, thickened lesions. The skin can become dry and cracked, causing itchiness, burning, soreness and bleeding. A new study has shown that something as safe and inexpensive as a topical turmeric cream can help relieve psoriasis. . . .

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study included thirty-four people with mild to moderate psoriasis on their arms and legs. Each of the people in the study served as her own control. Twice a day, they applied a placebo cream to one side of their body and a cream made from the herb turmeric to the other side. Turmeric is a powerful antiinflammatory herb.

At the end of the nine week study, redness, thickness and scaling had significantly decreased in the turmeric cream group. The Psoriasis Area and Sensitivity Index (PASI), which measures the severisty of the psoriasis and the percentage of area affected on scales from 1-4, decreased significantly in the turmeric group from 3.6 to 1.4. The score on the PASI was significantly lower in the turmeric group than in the placebo group.

The turmeric cream also improved the quality of life of the people suffering from the discomfort of psoriasis.

The adverse events in the herb group were similar to those in the placebo group, which is important because topical psoriasis medications have side effects.

Iran J Pharm Res 2015;14:865-76

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