Some people with psoriasis choose to supplement their psoriasis treatment plans with alternative or natural therapies, including vitamins, herbs, or certain foods. One option that has attracted attention is manuka honey, known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Several MyPsoriasisTeam members have shared positive experiences with manuka honey. One member wrote, “Every day is fabulous since I discovered manuka honey. It’s not cheap, but don’t be fooled by cheap imitations. Get the real New Zealand products.” Another member said, “My dad brought me back more manuka honey from New Zealand. It’s a little expensive, but so worth it. Really helps my skin and makes it feel so much smoother.”

Some members also like to include manuka honey in their daily routines. One member described making a favorite nighttime drink with manuka honey, coffee, and turmeric. Their go-to is a “turmeric latte — with soy milk, manuka honey, and, yes, a good helping of turmeric. “A delicious drink before bed, and great for my psoriasis.”

If you’re wondering whether manuka honey could help your psoriasis symptoms, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. Always talk to your dermatologist before trying natural therapies to make sure they won’t cause a psoriasis flare-up or interfere with your current treatments. As with any new skin product, there’s also a risk of an allergic reaction.

What Is Manuka Honey?

Manuka honey is a type of honey that comes from the manuka bush — a type of tea tree found in parts of Australia and New Zealand. Unlike traditional or polyfloral honey, which is made from many types of flowers. Manuka honey is monofloral, meaning bees produce it using the nectar of a single type of flower.

Traditionally, manuka honey has been used as a healing aid. This is because manuka honey is believed to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties. Manuka honey has been used for everything from healing wounds and treating acne to preventing tooth decay, soothing sore throats, and more. The antibacterial properties of manuka honey are about 100 times stronger than those of polyfloral honey.

Research on Manuka Honey and Psoriasis

So far, there is little research on the effects of manuka honey on psoriasis. However, studies have found that manuka honey has therapeutic effects for other skin conditions. More research is needed to confirm whether manuka honey can truly benefit psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions, but current findings show promise.

Protective Properties

One of the most common symptoms of psoriasis is having patches of discolored, scaly skin that may burn, sting, itch, or even crack and bleed. Moisturizing products or emollients (including creams, lotions, and ointments) can help hydrate dry skin and relieve the burning, itching, and flaking that come with psoriasis. While moisturizers can work as hydrating and soothing agents, they can’t treat psoriasis itself.

Manuka honey may hydrate the skin in a similarly protective way. This might help soothe psoriasis symptoms such as dry and cracked skin. Scientists believe the moisturizing properties of manuka honey come from nutrients like fructose, glucose, and amino acids.

Anti-Inflammatory and Immune-Regulating Properties

Manuka honey is also believed to have anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating properties. These properties of manuka honey could potentially improve symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis.

Manuka Honey and Psoriasis

One study on manuka honey and skin inflammation showed promising effects on psoriasis. Researchers found that manuka honey can activate a receptor in the skin and other barrier organs called the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). This receptor helps strengthen the skin barrier. This makes your skin less reactive to proteins in the immune system that trigger inflammation.

By activating AHR in your skin, manuka honey may help calm psoriasis symptoms. However, more research is needed to confirm which components of manuka honey have this effect and whether manuka honey works consistently in people with psoriasis.

Manuka Honey and Other Skin Inflammation

Manuka honey has also been studied in relation to atopic dermatitis. Similar to psoriasis, atopic dermatitis happens when the immune system becomes overactive and produces skin inflammation. In a small study of 14 participants, people applied manuka honey to a single atopic dermatitis site overnight for one week, leaving another area untreated. The study found that atopic dermatitis lesions significantly improved after manuka honey treatment when compared to the untreated sites.

Because the study had a small sample size and had other limitations, it’s hard to say whether manuka honey can reliably help manage inflammatory skin conditions. More research and larger clinical trials are needed to better understand if manuka honey can help treat skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Antibacterial Properties

Manuka honey has been found to have antibacterial properties from its active ingredient, methylglyoxal (MGO). The higher the MGO concentration in manuka honey, the stronger its antibacterial effects.

Studies have shown that manuka honey can act against a wide range of microorganisms. It has reportedly been able to alter the shape, size, morphology (form), and growth of some bacteria.

In fact, medical-grade manuka honey was the first naturally derived treatment for topical wound care to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Manuka honey remains one of the most studied types of honey in the world. Some research suggests it can even enhance the effects of antibiotics in wound dressings.

Manuka honey has been found to help speed wound healing by promoting tissue regeneration. This is likely because of its naturally low pH, compared to other types of honey. Its antibacterial properties can help protect wounds and broken skin from infection. Manuka honey may even help reduce pain when used in wound dressings. Still, it’s important to note that the FDA hasn’t approved manuka honey for treating any specific health condition.

Talk to Your Doctor

Manuka honey may offer benefits for managing some psoriasis symptoms. But there isn’t enough scientific evidence yet to confirm the effectiveness of manuka honey for psoriasis or other inflammatory skin conditions. Psoriasis should never be treated with honey alone, and any treatment plan should always be guided by a doctor.

If you’re considering taking manuka honey orally, consult your doctor first — especially if you have diabetes, since honey is high in sugar. Too much sugar can increase inflammation both in the skin and elsewhere, which might worsen psoriasis symptoms.

If you’re interested in using manuka honey topically, talk to a dermatologist or other healthcare provider before adding it to your skin care routine. They can guide you on how to use it safely. They’ll also help you reduce potential side effects like allergic reactions, and work with you to find the most effective approach to improving your symptoms — and your quality of life.

Join the Conversation

On MyPsoriasisTeam, people share their experiences with psoriasis, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you used manuka honey to control psoriasis symptoms like inflammation? Let others know in the comments below.