Black Garlic for Skin

What Is Black Garlic?

Black garlic is regular garlic that has been fermented for several weeks under controlled temperature and humidity. As a result, cloves obtain their characteristic black color and lose the irritating garlic smell. In addition, black garlic has a higher bioactivity and more antioxidants compared to raw garlic.

Benefits of Black Garlic for the Skin

For a long time, black garlic was used topically to manage skin problems. Cell culture, animal, and human studies of raw and black garlic have demonstrated a number of benefits for the skin, including:

• protection from skin infections due to its antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties
• speeding up wound healing and reducing inflammation
• improvement of acne and cold sores
• improvement of psoriasis and warts symptoms
• UVB-damaged skin repairing
• reduction in signs of skin aging

However, more pre-clinical and clinical studies are yet to be done.

How Can Black Garlic Be Administered for Skin Health?

Black garlic can be applied orally or topically, depending on the need. Suppose you need to reduce inflammation on the skin caused by infection. In this case, you can use creams or gels containing black garlic for direct application on the skin. A wide range of skincare products containing black garlic extract is available nowadays.

When it comes to the oral use of black garlic, you can add it to your food (it has a sweet and creamy taste) or take black garlic in the form of supplements. It is believed that oral black garlic supplementation is associated with various skin benefits, including improvement of skin elasticity, skin hydration, reduction in the appearance of wrinkles, slowdown of skin aging signs, and protection of the skin from environmental stresses. Still, more studies are needed to confirm these statements.

Are Black Garlic Supplements Safe To Take?

Yes, black garlic supplements are generally safe. However, it is essential to take them according to instructions and check precautions and contraindications. That being said, people in the following groups should be cautious and consult with a doctor before starting black garlic supplements use:

• people on blood thinners
• pregnant and breast-feeding women
• children
• people with diabetes
• people with a history of digestive issues
• people with low blood pressure
• people with allergies to one or more components of the supplement

Conclusion

Overall, there are many health benefits associated with black garlic, including its ability to aid in managing some skin concerns. In addition to taking black garlic in the supplement form or applying it topically, you can make it a part of your diet. This sweet-tasting product can become a great complement to your meals. Yet, be sure to consult a doctor and check contraindications before taking black garlic supplements or eating whole black garlic in large amounts.