Neelam Upadhyaya’s Post-Haldi Skin Reaction Should Ring Alarm Bells For Brides

Priyanka Chopra’s brother Siddharth Chopra recently got married to Neelam Upadhyaya in a Big Fat Indian wedding ceremony. While the multi-day wedding ceremony looked incredibly fun, with PC dancing to ‘Desi Girl’ in the baraat procession and Nick Jonas performing at the sangeet, the bride ended up having a not-so-fun reaction to one of the pre-wedding ceremonies.

Neelam took to her Instagram Stories to share a picture of her skin’s reaction to the haldi paste used during her pre-wedding ceremony. “What on Earth? I think it's a reaction of the haldi paste to the Sun. Although I did a patch test a few days before the function and everything was okay (sic),” she wrote, along with the image showing the red patches on her shoulder and the inflamed skin around her collarbone.

The tradition of applying haldi, or turmeric paste, all over the bride has been practised all across India for centuries. The ceremony is known by different names, depending on the region, like Pithi, Tel Baan, Gaye Holud, Ubtan, Pelli Koduku/Kuthuru and Kurallu. Turmeric’s anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and skin-brightening properties make it the perfect skincare ingredient to elevate the bride’s glow before her wedding. 

“It contains Curcumin, which helps reduce redness, calms irritation, and enhances the skin’s natural glow,” says Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta, dermatologist and founder of Isaac Luxe, “The ritual is also believed to detoxify and prepare the skin for the wedding day, making it look fresh and radiant.” 

However, as evidenced by Neelam, there can be some harmful side effects, depending on different skin types and the quality of haldi.

Everything To Know About Using Turmeric Safely On The Skin

There can be many reasons why your skin might not react favourably to turmeric. “Even when a patch test is conducted, delayed hypersensitivity reactions can manifest over 24-72 hours post-exposure,” says Dr Geetika, “That’s why some people, like Neelam Upadhyaya, experience symptoms despite prior testing.”

Before going for your haldi ceremony, it’s important to know how you can safely apply the natural skincare ingredient on your skin without it causing rashes or inflammation.

What can cause turmeric to react badly on the skin?

According to Dr Geetika, many factors can cause the seemingly harmless ingredient to react poorly when coming in contact with skin, like:

Impure or adulterated turmeric 

Needless to say, it’s important to know whether or not you’re using pure haldi for the ceremony. “Many commercially available turmeric powders contain artificial colours, lead, or synthetic additives, which can irritate the skin,” says the dermatologist.

Pre-existing skin conditions

If your skin is sensitive or prone to allergic reactions, there’s a good chance that you might end up with a similar reaction as Neelam’s. “Some people have a sensitivity to Curcumin or other components in turmeric, leading to contact dermatitis, redness, or rashes,” says Dr Geetika, “Those with conditions like eczema, rosacea, or sensitive skin are also more prone to flare-ups.”

Mixing with other ingredients

Traditionally, the haldi paste includes lemon juice, sandalwood, or milk. These additives can trigger reactions if someone is allergic or if the skin barrier is compromised. “When turmeric is combined with acidic components like lemon juice, it can alter the skin’s pH homeostasis, causing barrier disruption and increasing susceptibility to irritants."

How to tell if the turmeric is pure or not?

Checking the quality of the turmeric before applying for the haldi ceremony is important. “The purity of turmeric can be determined through chromatographic testing in laboratory settings, however, at-home assessments include colourimetry, solubility analysis, and olfactory evaluation,” advises Dr Geetika. Pure turmeric typically exhibits an earthy yellow hue and has a characteristic aromatic volatile oil profile due to its natural curcuminoids and turmerones. Adulterated variants may appear unnaturally bright yellow due to synthetic azo dyes.

According to the dermatologist,  a simple aqueous solubility test (by mixing turmeric in warm water) can reveal purity, as authentic turmeric settles without dispersing bright yellow streaks, whereas adulterated samples may exhibit artificial colouration.

“Additionally, lead chromate contamination, often found in low-grade turmeric, can be detected using a sodium hydroxide test, where adulterated samples turn red due to chemical reactions with lead compounds,” she says.

How to prepare your skin before applying turmeric to it?

The pre-wedding phase is stressful as it is for a bride without adding the stress of a potential bad reaction to the haldi ceremony. Even if you’ve tested the purity of the turmeric, it’s still safe to prep your skin properly before applying anything to it during the ceremony.

“Brides should focus on reinforcing the stratum corneum (skin barrier) to minimise the risk of irritation,” says Dr Geetika, “This involves using ceramide-rich emollients, hyaluronic acid-based hydrators, and niacinamide-containing formulations, which enhance epidermal barrier function and regulate inflammatory pathways.”

She also advises doing an extended patch test to figure out if their skin is reacting properly to the turmeric or not. “Applying a small quantity on the forearm, and observing for at least 48 hours, can help identify delayed hypersensitivity reactions.”

How to avoid getting a bad reaction to turmeric after application?

Even after checking the purity of the turmeric and doing a patch test for 48 hours, there are some steps that you need to follow to ensure your skin remains healthy and rash-free after the haldi ceremony.

“Avoid scrubbing the paste off aggressively, as it can cause micro-tears in the skin,” says Dr Geetika. She also advises brides to use sun protection following the ceremony. “Since turmeric can make the skin photosensitive, avoid direct sun exposure immediately after the ritual.”

It will also be prudent to monitor your skin’s reaction closely and consult a dermatologist if rashes flare up even after being cautious with the turmeric.