Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic and other traditional medicine systems for managing a variety of skin conditions, including dermatitis. In recent years, scientific research has begun to investigate the efficacy of turmeric and its active compound, curcumin, for inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis.

Several in vitro and animal studies have demonstrated that curcumin possesses potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. These activities are relevant to dermatitis, which involves immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, and, often, secondary infections. Curcumin is shown to inhibit nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and other pro-inflammatory cytokines, mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of dermatitis.

A limited number of clinical trials have examined topical and oral turmeric formulations for atopic dermatitis and other eczematous conditions. Some small-scale human studies have reported reductions in skin inflammation, erythema, and pruritus with turmeric-based creams or oral supplements, though study sizes are generally small and methodological quality varies.

In summary, while there is a strong scientific rationale and preliminary clinical evidence supporting turmeric's use for dermatitis, robust large-scale clinical trials are lacking. The current level of evidence is moderate (3/5), warranting further research but suggesting potential benefit, particularly as an adjunct to standard treatments.