Honey for Eczema & Psoriasis: What It Does, What the Evidence Shows & How to Use It
Honey has been used on skin for thousands of years — and unlike many traditional remedies, its properties have been examined under clinical conditions. For eczema in particular, the evidence is more specific and more compelling than most natural remedy articles suggest. The key is understanding what honey actually does, which type matters, and how to use it appropriately for these specific conditions.
Can honey help eczema and psoriasis?
Honey can help soothe dry, irritated skin and improve hydration, but it doesn’t treat eczema or psoriasis itself.
In short:
May calm dryness and irritation
Helps retain moisture (natural humectant)
Results are temporary
Not a cure or long-term solution
What makes honey therapeutically active
Not all honey is equal therapeutically. Standard supermarket honey has mild humectant and mild antimicrobial properties. Medical-grade and raw manuka honey have considerably more specific and documented activity.
Hydrogen peroxide. Most honeys produce small amounts of hydrogen peroxide through an enzymatic reaction — this provides general antimicrobial activity. However, hydrogen peroxide is also irritating at higher concentrations and can be deactivated by proteins in wound fluid and body secretions, limiting its durability in use.
Methylglyoxal (MGO). This is what makes manuka honey distinctive. Leptospermum scoparium (the New Zealand tea tree plant whose nectar manuka bees collect) produces dihydroxyacetone in the nectar, which converts to methylglyoxal during honey production. MGO has potent antimicrobial activity that is not deactivated by protein and persists on the skin surface — making manuka honey considerably more durable in antimicrobial effect than standard honey.
Low pH and high osmolarity. All honeys are acidic (pH 3.2–4.5) and highly concentrated (high sugar content draws water out of bacterial cells by osmosis). These properties independently inhibit bacterial growth and create an environment hostile to bacterial colonisation on skin.
Polyphenols and antioxidants. Raw honey contains flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. These vary by honey variety and processing — raw, minimally processed honey retains more than standard commercial honey.
Why these properties are specifically relevant to eczema
The S. aureus connection is the most important reason honey has specific — not just general — relevance to eczema.
Staphylococcus aureus colonises the skin of approximately 90% of people with atopic eczema, compared to around 5% of healthy individuals. The bacterium produces exotoxins that act as superantigens, triggering immune responses, damaging the skin barrier, and perpetuating the itch-inflammation-scratching cycle. Managing S. aureus colonisation is one of the most significant practical targets in eczema management.
Both manuka honey and medical-grade honey have documented activity against S. aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA). For eczema skin, a topical agent that reduces S. aureus load through osmotic, acidic, and MGO-mediated mechanisms — without the resistance risk of antibiotic creams — is a genuinely useful addition to the skincare toolkit.
The clinical evidence
The most significant published research involves the work of Professor Peter Molan at the University of Waikato (New Zealand) and subsequent groups. Clinical studies using honey for eczema and seborrhoeic dermatitis have found:
In a study of patients with chronic seborrhoeic dermatitis (forehead, eyebrows, chest) who applied diluted honey every other day and left it for three hours before rinsing, participants showed significant improvement in scaling, itching, and hair loss — with some achieving complete clearing. Crucially, those who stopped treatment relapsed, while continued application maintained improvement.
For atopic eczema, clinical observations and smaller studies have found improvements in itch, scaling, and dryness with consistent honey application — consistent with its S. aureus-reducing, humectant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Larger randomised controlled trials are limited.
For psoriasis, the evidence is less direct. Honey's scale-softening, antimicrobial, and soothing properties may provide comfort for mild psoriasis patches, but there is no mechanism by which it addresses the T-cell immune dysregulation driving the condition.
Does honey actually work?
For some people, yes—but only to a limited extent.
Honey may:
improve skin comfort
reduce dryness and tightness
temporarily soothe itching
However:
there’s limited clinical evidence
it doesn’t affect the underlying condition
Understanding the UMF and MGO rating systems
Manuka honey products are rated by two main systems: UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) and MGO (methylglyoxal). Both reflect the concentration of therapeutic compounds, primarily MGO.
A UMF 10+ / MGO 263+ is generally considered the minimum therapeutic grade for skin conditions. UMF 15+ / MGO 514+ is recommended for more active antimicrobial purposes (wound care, infected skin). UMF 5+ / MGO 83+ is often labelled for food use and has limited therapeutic effect.
For eczema skin management where S. aureus reduction is the goal, UMF 10+ or higher is the appropriate starting point.
Benefits of honey for skin
Hydration
Helps attract and retain moisture in the skin.
Skin barrier comfort
Can reduce dryness and make skin feel smoother.
Antibacterial support
May help protect irritated or damaged skin.
These benefits support symptom relief, not treatment.
Downsides of using honey
Sticky and impractical
Not ideal for regular use.
Possible irritation
Some people may react—especially with sensitive skin.
Short-lived results
Effects usually fade quickly.
Always patch test before use.
Products worth considering
Hemp Help Manuka Honey & Hemp Balm
combines manuka honey with hemp seed oil (a source of GLA and balanced omega fatty acids) in a balm format. The combination addresses both the antimicrobial benefit of manuka and the barrier lipid support from hemp seed oil. A practical option for localised dry or affected patches.
Ultra Bee 100% Natural Honey Balm
a natural honey-based balm suitable for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. Check the current ingredient list before purchasing — the formulation is simple and suitable for reactive skin, but confirm fragrance-free status.
Dr Organic Manuka Honey Hand Cream
a honey-based hand cream for eczema-prone skin on the hands. Hand eczema is one of the most common and most practically inconvenient presentations, and a honey-formulated hand cream provides both moisturisation and mild antimicrobial support appropriate to this site.
How to use honey safely for eczema and psoriasis
Choose the right type. For meaningful antimicrobial effect, raw manuka honey (UMF 10+) or medical-grade honey products (like Medihoney) are substantially more effective than standard supermarket honey.
Patch test first. Apply a small amount to the inside of the elbow and check after 24 hours. Propolis — a resinous compound found in some honeys and honey-based products — is a documented contact allergen and is more prevalent in raw and minimally processed varieties.
Apply to calm, unbroken skin. Honey on severely inflamed or acutely broken skin may cause stinging. It's appropriate for sub-acute or chronic dry patches, not acute weeping flares.
DIY honey-oat mask: 1 tablespoon raw manuka honey, 1 tablespoon finely ground rolled oats, 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel. Mix into a smooth paste. Apply to face or affected areas, leave for 10–15 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water, and apply emollient immediately. The oatmeal adds avenanthramide anti-inflammatory compounds; the aloe provides cooling; the honey provides humectant and antimicrobial activity.
Follow with emollient. Honey draws moisture toward itself — applying a fragrance-free emollient after rinsing seals in hydration and prevents rebound dryness.
Avoid on children under one year old for any ingestion risk. Topical application on unbroken skin is generally safe for infants above this age, but patch test first.
When to be cautious
People with known pollen, bee venom, or propolis allergy have an elevated risk of honey reactions. People with multiple existing topical product sensitivities should patch test before use. Do not apply honey to infected or severely inflamed psoriasis skin — medical treatment is more appropriate than natural remedies in that context.
Skin support for eczema & psoriasis-prone skin
Honey addresses surface comfort and S. aureus reduction. The immune dysregulation and nutritional deficiencies driving eczema and psoriasis require internal support that topical treatments cannot provide.
Drought's Skin Support Formula provides 14 nutrients including vitamin D, zinc, vitamin C, and magnesium — supporting the internal foundations of skin health that honey can complement but cannot replace. Made in the UK, suitable for vegetarians, designed for consistent long-term daily use.
FAQs: Honey and eczema & psoriasis
Is honey good for eczema?
Yes, particularly manuka honey (UMF 10+) for its specific antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, which colonises eczema skin and perpetuates inflammation. Clinical studies support improvement in itch, dryness, and scale.
Can honey help psoriasis?
It provides comfort and moisture retention but has no mechanism for addressing the T-cell immune dysregulation driving psoriasis. Useful as a soothing measure; not a treatment.
How often can I use honey?
A few times per week if your skin tolerates it.
Is Manuka honey better?
Yes — methylglyoxal in manuka honey provides persistent antimicrobial activity that standard honey doesn't have. UMF 10+ is the minimum therapeutic grade for skin conditions.
Can children use honey on eczema?
Topically on unbroken skin, yes for children over one year old. Never ingest honey before age one due to botulism risk, but this relates to ingestion not topical use
What works better than honey?
A broader approach targeting inflammation and skin health.
What is UMF rating and what level do I need?
UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) reflects methylglyoxal concentration. UMF 10+/MGO 263+ is the minimum therapeutic grade for skin use; UMF 15+ is recommended for more active antimicrobial purposes.
Can I be allergic to honey?
Yes — propolis, bee venom proteins, and pollen in honey are all potential allergens. People with pollen allergy, bee venom allergy, or known propolis sensitivity should patch test carefully.
Final thoughts
Honey — particularly manuka honey at UMF 10+ or medical-grade preparations like Medihoney — has specific and documented benefits for eczema through its activity against S. aureus, its humectant properties, and its anti-inflammatory compounds. The clinical evidence for seborrhoeic dermatitis is the most developed; atopic eczema evidence is positive but limited. For psoriasis, honey provides comfort and moisturisation but has no mechanism for addressing the underlying immune condition. Used consistently on calm, unbroken skin — patch tested first, followed by emollient — it is a legitimate and useful addition to a skin management routine for both conditions.
If you’re looking for consistent improvement, it’s important to focus on what’s driving your skin beneath the surface.
Supporting your skin from within can help reduce flare-ups and improve long-term resilience.
Start your skin support journey →
Written by the Drought Skin team — specialists in natural support for psoriasis and eczema.
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