EDUCATION
8 minute read
Essential Takeaways
- Manuka honey has been known to calm eczema flare-ups and provide relief from irritation.
- It can be applied straight onto the skin, or made into an eczema cream.
- Generally, higher UMF™ grades of manuka honey will be more effective on eczema, due to the higher level of antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
“She swears by it.”
That’s our head beekeeper talking about his niece’s experience using manuka honey for eczema.
Eczema isn’t pleasant.
It can be itchy, tight, sore, and at times unsightly.
It’s also pretty common. And if you’re looking for natural ways to manage it, then honey might be the sweet relief you’re looking for.
In this guide inspired by our head beekeeper’s story, we discuss why manuka honey is good for eczema, how to use it, how much to apply, and which strength of manuka is right for you.
Plus, your very own super simple honey eczema cream recipe!
In this blog on manuka honey for eczema:
Let’s get into it.
What Is Eczema?
Eczema is actually quite common.
From newborn babies to school age children and fully grown adults, anybody can be affected by this skin disease.
“Eczema (eg-zuh-MUH) is an inflammatory skin condition that causes dry skin, itchy skin, rashes, scaly patches, blisters and skin infections. Itchy skin is the most common symptom of eczema.”
You can’t ‘catch’ eczema from someone. It’s thought to be triggered by genes interacting with their environment, which causes surface-level inflammation.
“Flare-ups will occur due to an overactive immune system that attempts to fight off perceived threats. While flare-ups cannot be prevented, they can be minimized and controlled.”
Fortunately, you may not need heavily medicated creams to ease symptoms.
Honey could be the natural remedy you’re looking for.
That’s what we’ll discuss here.
Is it safe to put honey on eczema?
Based on the evidence at the time of writing, honey is safe to use on eczema as long as you’re not allergic to bees.
It’s always best to check with your doctor before using anything medically, even natural products like honey.
So why should you use it on eczema?
Let’s find out.
Should You Put Honey on Eczema?
Honey (and manuka honey specifically) has been shown to have pretty astonishing anti-inflammatory properties which make it perfect for using on eczema.
So remarkable, in fact, that it is used by doctors and vets for healing some of the most serious infected wounds.
How?
Honey has three key qualities that make it effective in healing inflamed areas:
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It’s a humectant, which means it locks in moisture to the area keeping it well hydrated and able to recover.
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It’s an emollient, which means that it promotes the absorption of lipids into the skin; the compounds that it needs to heal.
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It’s antimicrobial, which means that it keeps the inflamed area clear of bacteria and able to regenerate healthy tissue.
Those antimicrobial properties vary drastically between different types of honey.
And there’s one that comes out far on top.
How Manuka Honey Can Help Your Eczema
“Manuka honey has been demonstrated to significantly decrease the growth and reduce the spread of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that is associated with eczema. This is particularly important in light of antibiotic-resistant infections.”
The compound primarily associated with the antibacterial activity in honey is called methylglyoxal (MGO).
Whilst many regular honeys contain MGO, manuka has been found to contain up to 100 times more.
That makes its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects even stronger, helping to heal inflammations like eczema much faster.
“Application of manuka honey to the skin is thought to help in killing harmful bacteria, reducing or removing the incidence of eczema outbreaks.
By treating the eczema-affected area it’s thought to help keep the zone moist which helps to reduce flare-ups and aids the skin’s recovery.
The high viscosity of honey is also thought to form a barrier for the skin which is helpful in preventing infection in the first place.”
And in the battle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, manuka honey is being further explored by scientists and professionals for its potential in medicine.
With its versatile benefits, there is evidence that manuka honey is effective not just in skincare for things like eczema, acne, and rosacea, but as pre- and post-workout fuel, for hormone balance, stomach problems, sinus infections, fungal infections, managing allergy symptoms, and much more.
The strength of the antibacterial activity in manuka honey can be identified using the ratings on the jar.
We recommend manuka honey with a high UMF™ grade for the best results.
Here’s why.
What Is The Best Manuka Honey For Eczema?
UMF™ is a grading system used to verify authentic, pure, monofloral manuka honey from New Zealand.
This is the manuka honey that is famed for its antibacterial properties.
The higher the UMF™ rating, the more methylglyoxal the honey contains.
And the more antibacterial the honey will be.
To treat eczema, we recommend opting for the higher grades for the best results:
Lower UMF™ grades of manuka honey might also be effective, but for the best results, we recommend using a higher potency.
If you’re unsure which grade is right for you, check out our dedicated guide.
Or try our fun quiz.
4 Ways to Use Manuka Honey for Eczema
You can apply manuka honey straight to your skin from the jar.
But that’s not the only way.
There are a few methods to suit different lifestyles, ages, or daily activities.
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Topical Application Straight from the Jar
Here’s how to do it:
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Apply a teaspoon or tablespoon (depending on the size of your affected area) to your eczema and gently rub in a little.
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Leave it open to the air and avoid contact with clothing or objects to ensure the manuka honey stays on.
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Wash it off after at least 20 minutes, or leave it on for longer.
Note: This will be most effective during the day when your honey won’t be rubbed off by clothing or bed sheets.
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A Relaxing Massage Rub
Simple and quick:
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Warm some manuka honey gently, either in the sun or on a very low heat in a saucepan. You don’t want to raise the temperature too much because you’ll kill the beneficial active enzymes.
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Smooth this onto the areas of your skin affected by eczema and allow it to rest for 20 minutes.
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Rinse it off with warm water or wipe it off with a warm, wet flannel.
3) The Bedtime Remedy
Relaxing and restorative:
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Apply manuka honey directly to your freshly washed affected eczema areas (after a shower or bath).
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Wrap them in a bandage to prevent the honey coming off on your sheets.
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Sleep and let the manuka honey soothe your eczema overnight.
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Since most of it will soak into your skin, it shouldn’t be too sticky in the morning when you remove your bandage.
4) Make an Eczema Cream
“Manuka honey in cream form can be applied to either dry or damp skin. Although we find it's best on slightly damp skin as a little bit will go a much longer way and you won't need to replenish your cream as frequently.”
Make your very own soothing eczema cream with honey at home.
Here’s the recipe.
Make Your Own Manuka Honey Eczema Cream
Doing this at home can be a therapeutic part of the process of treating eczema.
Scratch Sleeves, a UK company making clothing preventing young ones itching themselves, has a brilliant recipe for a homemade salve.
Here it is:
Ingredients
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15g beeswax
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60g cold pressed coconut oil
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30g manuka honey
Makes: 2 x 60 ml jars.
Method
“Grate the beeswax into a microwave proof bowl and pop in the microwave on high for about 4 mins, until the remaining flakes are floating on the melted wax. Leave to stand for a couple of minutes until completely melted. Take care, it is really hot at this stage.
While the wax is melting, measure out the coconut oil and honey. Once the wax is completely liquid, add the honey and coconut oil and immediately stir briskly until the mixture is smooth.
Decant into a dry, sterile glass jars and leave to set. The mixture has a tendency to separate slightly, so give the jars a stir with a warm spoon every few minutes until the mixture solidifies (about 10-20 minutes).”
Jae from Scratch Sleeves recommends smoothing it onto the affected area and leaving it for at least 10-15 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water and patting the area dry.
When to See a Doctor About Your Eczema
It’s up to you when you want to see a doctor about your eczema.
Here are some typical situations where you might want to seek medical help:
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The eczema is new, and changes to your environment aren’t helping.
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The eczema is getting worse, or affecting a larger area.
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You’ve tried topically applying manuka honey either straight or in a cream, and it hasn’t calmed your eczema down.
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You’re really worried about it.
While natural remedies can be effective for some, nothing beats professional medical advice when symptoms persist.
We recommend that you go and see a doctor if you experience any of the above.
But if your eczema is mild and you’re looking for some sweet relief, manuka honey could be the answer for you.
Manuka Honey For Eczema Reviews
Here’s our head beekeeper talking about his niece’s experience using manuka honey for eczema:
Here are what some other happy customers are saying about using our manuka honey to treat their eczema.
“I use New Zealand Honey Co. Honey to treat eczema on my face and I have seen a significant improvement in my skin.”
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Anonymous, verified buyer | UMF™ 15+ | MGO 514+
“It helps control and heal the skin inflammation better than any antibiotic ointment.”
Thomas P., verified buyer | UMF™ 24+ | MGO 1122+
Buy Your Certified UMF™ Grade Raw Manuka Honey Right Here
The good news is, you can take the first step to controlling your eczema right now.
With manuka honey, you can minimise your symptoms and discomfort.
Get your manuka honey in the post today so you can start soothing your skin as soon as possible.
Take advantage of our fast shipping and fast track your way to soothed skin and results.
Shop our range.
Your wellness journey starts with a spoonful a day.
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