Manuka honey has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may help with eczema symptoms when applied topically. However, more research is necessary to confirm these benefits.

If you struggle with skin that is itchy, red, and flakey, you may be one of the more than 31 million people in America with eczema. You’re also probably willing to try almost anything to get your skin feeling and looking better!

Before giving up hope or spending hundreds of dollars on expensive creams, you may want to try honey on your eczema. Honey has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may be beneficial in treating your eczema.

That said, it’s important to first talk with your doctor about this home remedy. If you choose to use honey to relieve your eczema symptoms, you may also wish to use it together with other remedies or medication treatment options.

This article reviews the properties of honey and how it may help ease symptoms of eczema.

The unique antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of honey allow it to slow and prevent microorganism growth.

Medical-grade honey has long been used in the medical community to help treat certain types of burns and wounds.

It may also be useful in treating eczema symptoms because of its ability to:

  • help with tissue repair
  • regulate the immune system
  • manage bacteria growth

Approximately 70% to 90% of people with eczema have staphylococcus aureus bacteria colonizing on their skin. The antimicrobial properties of honey may help reduce this bacteria and associated inflammation.

If your eczema becomes infected, you can experience even more painful symptoms. Using honey to treat your eczema may reduce the amount of bacteria growing on your skin, lowering your risk of infection.

You can also use honey with certain medical treatments to further their effect.

Research shows honey’s unique properties can be particularly useful in treating microbial infections caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms.

So, even when a doctor prescribes antibiotics to help with eczema, applying honey on the skin may still be helpful.

Manuka honey is particularly beneficial in healing wounds and infections because of its extra antimicrobial activity. This additional activity is believed to be related to the presence of methylglyoxal, which is not present in other types of honey.

Based on the extra antimicrobial activity found in manuka honey, medical-grade honey has been developed to help treat multidrug-resistant bacterial species. However, not all medical-grade honey is equally effective at treating bacteria.

A 2020 study comparing 18 different types of honey found surgihoney was the most effective against a variety of different bacterial strains, but more research into the most effective eczema treating honey is necessary.

Research from 2024 also shows that honey may be effectively used to treat wounds of those with diabetes.

It should be noted that honey that is not medical grade may include pesticides or bacteria that could worsen your eczema symptoms, so you’ll want to avoid using nonmedical-grade honey to treat your eczema.

A 2017 study found improvement in participants’ eczema over 7 nights when they:

  • applied a layer of medical-grade honey to their affected skin
  • covered the area with gauze
  • left it overnight
  • washed the area in the morning

More research in the future is still necessary on the best ways to apply honey to relieve eczema symptoms.

Although rare, serious side effects, including anaphylactic shock, may occur to those allergic to honey or bee venom who use honey topically to treat their eczema.

  • hives
  • facial swelling
  • wheezing
  • shallow breathing
  • fainting or dizziness
  • rapid heart rate
  • anxiety or feelings of doom

In addition to honey, other potential home remedies for eczema include:

You can read more about natural remedies for eczema.

Depending on the location of your eczema and its severity, your doctor may suggest:

If an infection occurs related to your eczema, a doctor may prescribe antivirals, antibiotics, or antifungal medications.

Honey has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may help relieve your eczema symptoms. To treat eczema with honey, you should apply medical-grade honey topically to the affected areas.

In addition to honey, you can use other home remedies like oatmeal baths along with over-the-counter and prescription medications to help relieve symptoms of eczema.

If you have allergies to honey or bee venom, you’ll want to discuss this with your doctor before attempting to use honey to relieve your eczema symptoms.