People have been talking about the wellness benefits of manuka honey in relation to skin and anti-aging for some time now, but how much do the claims about the properties of this product actually stand up to scrutiny? Many actually claim that manuka honey can benefit your wellbeing in countless different ways, but its ability to (apparently) reduce acne scars and get rid of spots is the area which has come under the spotlight recently.
A few months ago on Reddit, a massive social sharing website, users started swapping stories of the healing power of honey. Users on the acne board in particular credited manuka honey with curing their skin problems, and some even posted before and after pictures. This sparked a huge discussion about the efficacy of manuka honey for reducing spots and scars.
This is not new information however: since 1892 honey has been known to have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties – it was even used in ancient Egypt for the treatment of wounds.
Manuka honey comes from honeybees who forage the manuka trees of New Zealand and Australia. Dermatologists have found that it contains a much higher concentration of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties than any other type of honey. It inhibits more than 80 species of bacteria, although scientists aren’t really sure why.
It is possible, however, that the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects of manuka honey have a soothing and calming effect on the skin, rather than it actually being a long term cure. Doctors have described it as being like a ‘band aid’, so that it deals with the bacteria on the skin and helps to reduce specific sites of inflammation but does not actually cure acne altogether.
It is therefore a great idea to incorporate some manuka honey into your skincare regime, but don’t expect it to keep all of your spots at bay for good.
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