For centuries, ginger has been known as a healing ingredient, in food and in medicine. Most of us reach for it to settle nausea or calm an upset stomach, and it has earned its place as a pantry staple for exactly that reason. What I find more interesting is the second half of the story: the same root is also showing up in skincare, and the dermatologists who spoke to Byrdie about it — Audrey Kunin, MD, Ava Shamban, MD, and Teresa Song, MD — say it has real range, from calming redness to brightening dull skin. I am not the one testing it here; everything that follows is their guidance, gathered by Byrdie writers Deven Hopp and Krista Carter and medically reviewed by Julia A. Siegel, MD.
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The short version, before the detail: ginger’s active compound gingerol helps calm inflammation and redness, which is why it keeps coming up for acne and eczema. It suits acne-prone and oily skin best, though it can irritate sensitive skin if it goes on undiluted. And the dermatologists’ practical advice is to use ginger-based products alongside moisturisers and serums, where the brightening and antioxidant effects do their best work.
Ginger at a glance: it is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredient. Its main benefits are improving skin tone and texture and reducing swelling. It is recommended for acne-prone skin and combination to oily skin types, used one to two times daily, and it works well with moisturisers and serums. The one pairing to avoid is other exfoliating agents, such as retinoids. And the warning that runs through the whole piece is worth stating upfront: ginger-based products should be avoided by those with highly sensitive skin, as Dr. Song puts it.
The three dermatologists behind the advice are Audrey Kunin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of DERMADoctor; Ava Shamban, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of SKIN FIVE; and Teresa Song, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical.
What Is Ginger?
Ginger is a root, and a superfood in the truest sense of the word — its medicinal properties have been put to use for thousands of years. It carries antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticancer activity, and that combination is what gives the spice so many health benefits, skin included.
Benefits of Ginger for the Skin
Six benefits came up again and again in their answers.
Fades scars. Dr. Kunin points to ginger’s antioxidant power and its toning effect: together, she says, they can help normalise hypopigmented scars — the kind that sit lighter than the surrounding skin.
Reduces inflammation. The active compound gingerol has strong anti-inflammatory properties that combat redness and swelling, Dr. Song says. Dr. Shamban adds that ginger can reduce inflammation and irritation in conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and inflamed acne, and Dr. Kunin notes that the same de-puffing effect can help minimise the look of dimpling, or cellulite.
Brightens skin tone. Ginger is recognised for its brightening effects and is rich in antioxidants, Dr. Song tells us, and its ability to protect against free radicals and environmental stressors contributes to its anti-aging benefits.
Rejuvenates skin. Dr. Shamban points to real data here: there is evidence, she explains, that ginger has a damping influence on the enzymes that break down collagen — the MMPs, or matrix metalloproteinases, also known as collagenase. Since collagen is what keeps skin looking youthful, interfering with its breakdown makes ginger a genuine anti-aging tool in her view.
Combats acne. Ginger is a great choice for acne-prone skin, Dr. Shamban says — it helps control oil production, reduce inflammation and prevent breakouts. Dr. Song adds the mechanism behind that: gingerol has been found to have strong antibacterial activity, which supports its role in acne treatments.
Promotes a healthy scalp. Ginger is great for the scalp as well, Dr. Kunin says: it can help stimulate hair growth and reduce dandruff, because its antiseptic nature helps keep the natural yeast and bacteria that trigger dandruff low.
Skin Type Considerations
Dr. Song’s reasoning goes wider than breakouts. Ginger can be beneficial for acne-prone skin and combination to oily skin types, she says, and it can also help with dullness, uneven pigmentation and wrinkles. The caution is real, though: the sensitivity and tolerability of ginger still need further research, she adds, and people with sensitive skin should be cautious with topical application.
Side Effects
Ginger is generally considered safe for most people, but some may experience irritation, an allergic reaction or dryness. One combination matters more than the rest: ginger should not be combined with other exfoliating agents, such as retinoids, because that can increase the risk of irritation. If you notice any adverse reaction, the advice is simple — stop using it and consult a dermatologist.
How to Use It
Ginger can be used in a variety of ways in skincare, from topical application to oral consumption. Serums, moisturisers and masks are the usual formats, Dr. Song says, and it can also work as a spot treatment for acne or other skin concerns. The products can be used once to twice a day, but it is important to start with a small amount and increase gradually, and to start with a spot test on a small area of skin before using anything more broadly. The Byrdie Tip in the piece says the same thing in shorter form: it is important to patch-test any product before using it for the first time.
For Your Face
Oil and serum: Dr. Song recommends working a face oil or serum into your routine to promote a healthy complexion, and the one she likes is Sunday Riley CEO Glow Vitamin C and Turmeric Face Oil — formulated with a blend of ginger and antioxidants, and gentle enough for dry, sensitive skin.
Cream: A face cream is another easy entry point, and Dr. Song’s recommendation is Innisfree Nourishing Cream with Ginger Honey. Made with calming honey and anti-inflammatory ginger, it is super nourishing.
Mask: You can also mix your own mask at home from equal parts grated or powdered ginger, honey and fresh lemon juice, then leave it on before rinsing.
For Your Body
Scrub: For a DIY ginger body scrub, mix sugar, olive oil, grated ginger and the zest of one lemon in a bowl until well combined, apply it to your body in circular motions, then rinse off with warm water.
Cream: After exfoliating, Dr. Song recommends a body cream such as Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream, which is packed with antioxidants and delivers deep hydration.
For Your Scalp
For the scalp, Dr. Kunin recommends Dermadoctor’s Lucky Bamboo Quench & Set Essence Spray, a refreshing wellness mist full of antioxidants like ginger, electrolytes and minerals. It is, she says, the perfect way to add ginger to a daily routine easily — great for anyone wanting to strengthen hair with vitamins and nutrients while keeping the scalp happy and healthy. You can find it here: DERMAdoctor Lucky Bamboo Quench & Set Essence Spray.
For Scars
For scars, use fresh ginger slices to target the marks directly. Cut a slice from a fresh ginger root and dab it onto the areas of skin that are lacking colour, then let the juice dry. Do this once or twice a day, every day, and you should start to see an improvement in a couple of weeks — within a few months, the scars should be nearly undetectable.
Final Takeaway
From reducing inflammation to improving dullness, ginger is a skincare saviour. Most skin types can benefit from its antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but a patch test is still recommended when you first try it out — and sensitive skin may do better with a serum or cream formulated with ginger than with the raw ingredient applied directly, to avoid irritation. All told, working ginger into a routine is a low-effort way to get more out of your skin’s health.
Byrdie’s sources for the piece are “Ginger: usefulness and safety” from the NCCIH and “Bioactive compounds and bioactivities of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)” by Mao QQ and colleagues, published in Foods in 2019.
