Can Manuka Honey Help Clear Up Acne?

Pimples and breakouts are caused by the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes, which causes small infections (P. acnes). But traditional treatments like antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide can have side effects that aren’t good, so it’s best to look for gentler options like Manuka honey.

Does manuka honey really help acne?

Manuka honey hasn’t been studied much as a natural treatment for acne, but it may help with other skin conditions.

Some research from 2014 shows that honey can kill germs, reduce inflammation, and help wounds heal.

People who think Manuka honey can help treat acne say that it does so because:

Effects on inflammation

The same study says that honey’s antioxidants can help reduce inflammation.

Acne can cause localized inflammation, which may be lessened by anti-inflammatory drugs.

Antimicrobial properties

Manuka honey may kill microorganisms like bacteria because it has an antimicrobial effect.

Acne can be caused by bacteria that gets into the pores. Researchers have found that manuka honey may kill about 60 kinds of bacteria, including pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics.

Microbes may also not be able to grow because honey has a lot of sugar in it.

Manuka honey is hygroscopic, which means that it pulls water out of bacteria. Bacteria can’t live without water.

Properties that help heal wounds

One study found that manuka honey may help wounds heal because of a few things.

Manuka honey has a low pH, and when you lower the pH of a wound, it helps it heal faster.

Honey also pulls water out of the wound, which helps keep it clean and dry. Manuka honey can help keep bacteria out of wounds because it kills bacteria.

Manuka honey has other benefits as well

Manuka honey has been called “super honey” for a long time, and with good reason.

Cosmetic benefits and effects on acne

Your skin can look better if you use manuka honey. It can help keep your skin clean by balancing the pH level of your skin and getting rid of dead skin cells. Because it reduces inflammation, it can help with acne-related inflammation. Because it kills bacteria, manuka honey makes it less likely that bacteria will get into your pores and cause acne. This honey can also heal pimples that are already there. Acne gets better faster because of the low pH.

The ability to heal

Researchers have found that honey has many good effects. For example, it destroys harmful bacteria. Because it has methylglyoxal and hydrogen peroxide, Manuka honey is good at killing pathogens, even ones that are resistant to antibiotics. Keeping the skin free of bacteria helps it heal faster.

This honey is also a great emollient, which means it makes the skin smooth and soft. Because it has a lot of sugar, it can keep a wound or burn moist. This can also help people get better faster.

Manuka honey also decreases swelling and pain at the wound site. It can also help with skin issues like dandruff and psoriasis.

How to treat acne with Manuka honey

It can be used to clean your skin or as a mask. No matter how you want to use it, you should take off your makeup first.

As a cleanser

Put a little honey on your face, about the size of a pea. If you need to, you can use a bit more or add a few drops of water to make it less strong. Researchers have found that even when Manuka honey is diluted, it still kills bacteria. For a few minutes, gently rub the honey all over your face. Then wash it off and pat it dry.

As a mask

Make a paste by combining:

• Ground oats
• Hone
• Lemon juice

You can leave the mixture on your face for up to 15 minutes. You could instead put honey on your face as a mask and leave it on for up to 30 minutes.

As a spot treatment

Put a small amount of honey on a pimple that is starting to form. All done. Leave it alone and let the honey’s antibacterial power do its thing.

Considerations

When you use Manuka honey, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you’re using Manuka honey to treat acne, it’s important to know that the antibacterial power of different batches can vary.

The Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) system was made to rate how well a batch of Manuka honey kills germs.

On a scale from 5 to 20, the honey is given a grade. The UMF is based on DHA, leptosperin, and methylglyoxal, which are all natural parts of honey.

When Manuka honey has a high UMF, it means it has a lot of these antibacterial compounds, which means it works better against bacteria.

Manuka honey can also make you sick if you have an allergy to it. Do a spot test on a small area of skin before using it to treat acne.

Put a small amount of honey on the inside of the arm to do a spot test. If after 24 hours there are no signs of an allergy, it is probably safe to use. Itching, hives, and redness are all signs of an allergic reaction.

In Conclusion

More research is needed to find out how well Manuka honey works to treat acne. But it may be helpful for some people as a treatment because it kills bacteria, helps wounds heal, and reduces inflammation.

There are other ways to treat acne, such as laser therapy and oral antibiotics, but they don’t work for everyone. Manuka honey could be a safe, natural alternative.

It is important to use high-quality Manuka honey. Some health food stores sell Manuka honey, and you can also buy it online.