Curcumin and Skin Health

A new report from Transparency Market Research, “Curcumin Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 – 2023," said India, China and other Asia-Pacific countries are emerging regions for the global curcumin market due to the growing demand from skin care and cosmetics manufacturers whose herbal products are gaining fast penetration in North American and European markets.

Curcumin has made a name for itself in the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant categories. More recently, skin care companies have taken an interest in this compound, too. Brands such as Super By Dr Nicholas Perricone uses curcumin in his Sun Kissed SPF 25 tinted moisturizer, which is “loaded with curcuminoids, the antioxidant in tumeric, to protect and soothe"; and boscia in its Green Tea Oil-Control Mask, which also features curcumin alongside Japanese green tea, burdock root, cucumber and more.

So why curcumin? In 2013, researchers from Unilever and Newcastle University, U.K., discovered—while examining the protective effects of tiron, an antioxidant, on skin—curcumin offered 16-percent protection against oxidative stress and 8 percent against UVA (FASEB. Oct. 10, 2013). Another study, published days after, reported “growing scientific evidence suggesting curcumin's utility in the treatment of … acceleration of wound closure, skin infections, as well as cosmetic ailments such as dyspigmentation." (J Drugs Dermatol. 2013 Oct;12(10):1131-7). The study did note, however, that limitations exist “such as the cosmetically unpleasing bright yellow-orange color, its poor solubility and its poor stability at a high pH."

To read more about cosmeceuticals, including areas that are gaining traction within the market, tech-savvy delivery systems, the ever-growing sector of nutricosmetics and more, click here.