Honey for Seborrheic dermatitis

An ancient humectant and antimicrobial ingredient with a long research track record. Its sugar matrix and flavonoids help draw in moisture and support skin comfort; formulas pairing honey with beeswax and olive oil have shown improvement in dry, irritation-prone skin in controlled trials.

Why it works for Seborrheic dermatitis

Helps clear the yeast and calm the patches. Its high sugar content and the small amount of hydrogen peroxide it makes work against the yeast and soothe inflammation. In a small study of 30 people (Al-Waili 2001), diluted raw honey rubbed onto patches every other day for 4 weeks fully cleared the itching and scaling. Applying it weekly after that kept the rash from coming back over 6 months; 12 of 15 people who stopped saw it return.

How Honey works

Hyperosmotic sugar matrix that draws fluid from wounds, generates low-level hydrogen peroxide via glucose oxidase, and (in Manuka grades) delivers methylglyoxal. Collectively bactericidal against C. acnes and S. aureus while supplying flavonoids that suppress inflammatory cytokines and accelerate re-epithelialisation.

Evidence

4 citations from our ingredient database. Full citation list on the Honey ingredient page.

journal2016

Semprini A, Braithwaite I, Corin A, et al. Randomised controlled trial of topical kanuka honey for the treatment of acne. BMJ Open. 2016 Feb 1;6(2):e009448. — RCT: kanuka honey + antibacterial soap was NOT significantly more effective than antibacterial soap alone for acne; primary endpoint not met.

systematic review2015

Jull AB, Cullum N, Dumville JC, Westby MJ, Deshpande S, Walker N. Honey as a topical treatment for wounds. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(3):CD005083.

review2011

Mandal MD, Mandal S. Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2011;1(2):154-160.

systematic review2009

Wijesinghe M, Weatherall M, Perrin K, Beasley R. Honey in the treatment of burns: a systematic review and meta-analysis of its efficacy. N Z Med J. 2009;122(1295):47-60.

Products with Honey in our catalog

These are the catalog products that list Honey as a tracked ingredient.

Sunday Riley

A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum

$50 · Treatment

Beauty of Joseon

Dynasty Cream Jumbo

$28.78 · Moisturizer

COSRX

Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner

$17 · Toner

Skinfood

Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence

$19 · Serum

Naturium

Quadruple Hyaluronic Acid Serum 5%

$11.89 · Serum

Sulwhasoo

First Care Activating Serum

$89 · Essence

Full Honey guide →Seborrheic dermatitis overview →