Manuka Honey for Eczema: Is Manuka Honey Good for Eczema?

If you’re suffering from eczema, you know just how frustrating of a skin condition it can be—from the constant itching to totally disrupting your daily life. It’s actually quite common, with over 10% of Americans (that’s over 30 million people!) enduring some form of it, but that doesn’t make it any less of a battle to manage. Fortunately, there are treatments available, and holistic remedies like Manuka Honey have proved to be a real game-changer for soothing symptoms and keeping flare-ups under control. Ahead, we’ll explore everything you need to know about this supercharged honey and how to apply Manuka Honey for eczema to harness its healing abilities to find much-needed relief.

Overview of Manuka Honey and Eczema

What Is Eczema? Symptoms, Causes, and Common Treatments

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition that manifests as dry, scaly patches of skin that become red, itchy, and inflamed. It often causes the skin to crack and, in severe cases, can lead to blistering and bleeding.

While the exact causes of eczema vary from person to person, it’s typically the result of a combination of genetic, immune, and environmental factors. It’s associated with an overactive immune response that causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the skin. Those with eczema also often have a compromised skin barrier, making it easier for irritants, allergens, and microbes to penetrate the skin and trigger reactions. It has a strong genetic predisposition, meaning it often runs in families.

There is currently no cure for eczema, but it’s possible to make the condition much more manageable. Maintaining skin hydration is key, and opting for gentle, fragrance-free skincare products can help prevent triggering a flare-up. A number of holistic remedies—such as Manuka Honey—can help calm and soothe these rashes, while medicated moisturizers and corticosteroid creams are available that can help reduce inflammation and relieve itching. Prescription oral medications, topical treatments, and in-office procedures are also options for more severe cases.

What Is Manuka Honey?

Sourced exclusively from New Zealand, Manuka Honey is derived from the nectar of the Manuka Bush. Like regular honey, it’s loaded with amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, but it’s distinguished by unique compounds that give it particularly strong antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Ingesting Manuka Honey offers a litany of health benefits, but it’s also long been used as a topical remedy for a variety of skin conditions. It has the ability to nourish, rebalance, and retain moisture, while its special properties also help prevent infection, soothe inflammation, and promote healing.

Is Manuka Honey Good for Eczema?

Given its numerous beneficial topical properties, can Manuka Honey help eczema? In short, yes. Used as a remedy for skin infections and wounds by New Zealand’s Indigenous Māori people for centuries, the medical and scientific communities have started exploring the relationship between Manuka Honey and eczema (among other skin conditions) in more recent years. Studies from 2017 and 2019 have demonstrated its strong potential for calming and healing eczema flare-ups. Let’s dive into how it works…

How Does Manuka Honey Help Eczema?

Thanks to its potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and moisturizing properties, Manuka Honey for eczema can be an exceptionally powerful treatment. It helps calm the redness, swelling, and irritation of rashes, while its unique compounds can reduce the risk of bacterial infections of cracked skin. Its inflammation-fighting and moisturizing abilities also help relieve itching, another common (and possibly the most frustrating) symptom of eczema.

Another reason Manuka Honey is good for eczema? It’s a natural humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture in the skin, keeping it hydrated and repairing the skin barrier, shielding it from external triggers and reducing the severity of symptoms.

Are There Any Side Effects of Applying Manuka Honey on Eczema?

Given its incredible healing and nourishing properties, most people won’t experience any adverse side effects from applying Manuka Honey on eczema, but possible allergic side effects include mild skin irritation, such as redness, itching, or a rash. As with any new ingredient you introduce to your routine, it’s important to patch test before applying it to more widespread areas—especially already irritated, inflamed areas affected by eczema. Of course, if you know that you’re allergic to bees, pollen, or Honey, you should steer clear from applying any Manuka Honey product topically.

Manuka Honey for Eczema Before and After Results: What You Can Expect

When using Manuka Honey for eczema, it’s important to set some expectations and remember that before and after results will vary from person to person. Generally, you can expect some improvements in redness, inflammation, itchiness, and skin hydration and, overall, experience a faster healing process, though this timeline will vary. Manuka Honey is powerful, but it’s not a cure-all, and it’s best used as a complementary treatment to integrate into your eczema treatment plan, and you should always consult your dermatologist or healthcare provider to see if it’s right for you.

How to Apply Manuka Honey for Eczema

Preparing the Skin

The first step of using Manuka Honey for eczema is to prep the affected area properly; this will not only enhance its efficacy but minimize the potential for irritation. Cleanse the area with lukewarm water and a gentle, non-irritating cleanser that’s free from fragrances, dyes, and harsh chemicals—and if that cleanser just so happens to be infused with its own Manuka magic, even better! Try our nourishing Manuka Honey Cleansing Balm, which hydrates as it cleanses to ensure it doesn’t strip the skin.

Picking the Perfect Manuka Honey Eczema Products

First, consider the form of Manuka Honey for eczema you want to use: raw or a skincare product. Both boast powerful benefits, so it’s really up to personal preference!

Authentic raw Manuka Honey—especially when it has a UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) of 10 or higher—contains the strongest antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and can be very effective on eczema. On the other hand, it’s also pretty sticky and messy to apply, and it has a stronger potential to further irritate eczema. If you choose to go the raw route, ensure your Honey is authentic, medical grade, and pure, and look for certifications like the UMF Honey Association seal or the New Zealand FernMark to ensure it meets strict quality standards.

Due to convenience, ease of application, and the potential to contain even more beneficial skin-soothing ingredients, many opt for Manuka Honey eczema skincare products to manage their eczema instead. At Naturopathica, we offer a full collection of Manuka Honey formulas that incorporate this superstar superfood with added benefits from other powerful botanicals. Our Manuka Honey Creamy Body Lotion can help deeply nourish eczema-riddled skin, while a Hydration Complex and Soothing Complex help provide lasting hydration and relief from redness, irritation, and sensitivity. For the face, our Manuka Honey Whipped Oil is a rich, ultra-humectant moisturizer with a delectable texture that can help soothe dry patches, infused with antioxidant and fatty acid-rich Jojoba Oil to further protect skin.

Applying Manuka Honey

Using clean hands or a clean applicator such as a spatula or cotton swab, apply a thin, even layer of raw Manuka Honey or Manuka Honey skincare to the affected area. Depending on the location and the severity of the flare-up, you can loosely cover the area with a bandage or gauze to keep it in place, as well as protect your clothing and bedding. If using raw Manuka Honey, allow it to work its magic on the skin for at least 20-30 minutes before gently rinsing off and patting dry. For topicals such as moisturizers and oils, you can let the product fully absorb and go about your day; no need to rinse!

Duration and Frequency

How often you’ll need to apply Manuka Honey on eczema will depend on the severity of your condition, as well as how your skin responds to it, but you should start by applying it to the affected area once or twice daily for about two to four weeks. During this period, it’s crucial to monitor the area closely to see how your skin reacts. If it shows improvement without any signs of irritation, you can continue with this frequency or increase application up to three times per day. If you notice increased redness, irritation, or discomfort, reduce the frequency or discontinue using altogether.

Post-Application Care

Hydrated skin can help support healing, so apply a gentle moisturizer immediately after rinsing off the Manuka Honey or directly over your Manuka Honey skincare to help lock in moisture and keep the delicate skin barrier protected. Use only mild products in the area, avoiding any with added fragrances, dyes, or harsh chemicals, which can irritate and worsen an eczema flare-up. If it’s on your body, only wear soft, breathable fabrics and avoid itchy wools or synthetics. Humidifiers are also a great way to prevent exacerbating your eczema, as they increase the amount of moisture in the air and help prevent skin dryness. And, of course, always consult your dermatologist if you notice an adverse reaction or you’re unsure about the best approach to managing your eczema.

Soothe Irritated Skin With Naturopathica’s Manuka Honey Eczema Products

While raw Manuka Honey offers wonderful benefits, its sticky, messy nature can prove challenging to apply consistently—that's why we prefer our Manuka Honey-infused formulas, which feel incredible on the skin and absorb without a trace. True to our nature-first approach to skincare, these clean formulas are made with only the purest Manuka Honey and botanicals, containing none of the bad stuff. What’s more, they’re enriched with other nourishing ingredients like Jojoba Oil and Royal Jelly Peptides to further calm, soothe, and relieve the symptoms of eczema.

More Advice on Managing Eczema

Manuka Honey is just one of the many options available for managing eczema and alleviating its uncomfortable symptoms. In addition to natural topicals, holistic approaches such as stress management, lifestyle changes, and dietary considerations can be beneficial—and if these methods don’t provide the relief you’re seeking, other treatments include medicated moisturizers, corticosteroid creams, phototherapy, and prescription oral medications and topicals, depending on the severity of your condition. To create an eczema treatment plan that best suits you, consult with your dermatologist to tailor your treatments and strategies to address your specific needs.

Final Thoughts on Manuka Honey and Eczema

It’s important to understand that while eczema currently has no cure, numerous treatment options are available that can help soothe symptoms, heal flare-ups faster, and keep your skin healthy overall. If you’re seeking a holistic route that’s free from harsh chemicals and steroids, Manuka Honey is one of the most powerful options nature has to offer, and our deeply nourishing Manuka Honey formulas are a great way to introduce this potent superfood into your eczema-care routine.