Manuka honey is one of the most searched natural remedies for itchy, inflamed skin, and for good reason. When people search for the best Manuka honey for eczema, they're usually asking two things at once: does this stuff actually work, and which jar should I buy? In this guide we'll walk through what the research says about Manuka honey and eczema, why the MGO number on the label matters more than any fancy marketing term, and how to use it on your skin safely and sensibly

.

Quick Answer:

A small clinical study found that people with eczema who applied Manuka honey to their skin on one side of their body overnight for seven nights saw a meaningful improvement in symptoms compared with untreated skin on the other side of their body. This is likely due to Manuka honey's high MGO (methylglyoxal) content, which gives it antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Manuka honey works best as a gentle, complementary step alongside your usual eczema care rather than a replacement for it, so patch test first and check with your doctor if your eczema is more than mild.

Does Manuka Honey Actually Help Eczema?

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, causes dry, red and itchy patches of skin that can crack, weep or become infected, and the itch-scratch cycle is often what makes it so hard to live with day to day.

There's genuine science behind the idea that Manuka honey can help. In a study published in the journal Immunity, Inflammation and Disease, adults with eczema on both sides of their body applied Manuka honey to lesions on one side overnight for seven consecutive nights, leaving the matching lesions on the other side untreated as a comparison. The honey-treated side showed a significantly lower severity score than the untreated side. In laboratory follow-up work from the same research team, Manuka honey was found to reduce the release of an inflammatory protein involved in the itch-and-flare cycle of eczema, and also reduced histamine release from mast cells, another driver of allergic skin reactions.

Eczema-prone skin is also more vulnerable to bacterial infection, particularly from Staphylococcus aureus, which can worsen flare-ups and slow healing. Manuka honey has well-documented antibacterial activity against this and other skin-related bacteria in laboratory studies, which may help explain some of its soothing effect on broken or irritated skin.

It's worth being upfront about the limits of the evidence too. This was a small pilot study, and the researchers themselves called for larger trials before anyone can say Manuka honey definitively treats eczema. Dermatologists tend to describe topical honey as a reasonable complementary option for mild eczema rather than a stand-alone treatment, particularly for skin that has started to blister, crust or crack.

Why MGO Is the Number That Actually Matters

If you've shopped for Manuka honey before, you've probably noticed a number on the jar, for example MGO 100+ or MGO 500+. MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a compound that forms naturally in genuine manuka (Leptospermum) honey as it matures. It's the main reason Manuka honey has stronger antibacterial activity than regular honey.

Researchers first isolated and confirmed methylglyoxal as the compound responsible for Manuka honey's antibacterial strength back in 2008, and found that this antibacterial activity increases as MGO concentration rises. In plain terms, the higher the MGO number, the more potent the honey's natural antibacterial activity is likely to be.

That's why the MGO rating is worth paying attention to, rather than vague terms like “active” or “bio-active” that don't tell you much on their own. A genuine, lab-tested MGO number means you know what you're buying, which matters if you're choosing Manuka honey specifically for its skin benefits rather than just as an everyday sweetener.

How to Use Manuka Honey for Eczema

Patch Test First

Before applying Manuka honey anywhere near a flare-up, dab a small amount on the inside of your wrist or elbow and wait 24 hours. If you notice any redness, swelling or irritation, don't proceed.

Applying It Directly to Skin

Once you know your skin tolerates it, smooth a thin layer of Manuka honey over the affected area. Some people prefer to cover it with a light dressing or gauze for an hour or two, or overnight as in the study above, then gently rinse off with lukewarm water if necessary. Keep the layer thin. A little goes a long way.

Honey in a Warm Bath Soak

For eczema that's spread across a larger area, stirring a few tablespoons of Manuka honey into a warm, not hot, bath can be a gentler way to apply it, letting your skin take it in as you soak rather than applying it directly to sensitive patches.

A Few Safety Notes

Manuka honey should never be given to babies under 12 months old, whether eaten or applied near the mouth, because of the small but serious risk of infant botulism. It's also worth remembering that Manuka honey is a complementary step, not a replacement for prescribed eczema treatment. Keep using any creams or medication your doctor has recommended, and check in with them if your eczema is moderate to severe, infected, or simply not improving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put Manuka honey directly on eczema?

Yes, many people apply a thin layer of Manuka honey directly to eczema-affected skin, and a small clinical study found this improved symptoms after seven nights of use. Always patch test first and stop if you notice any irritation.

What MGO strength is best for skin?

There's no single “correct” MGO number for skin use, but the higher the MGO, the stronger the honey's antibacterial activity is likely to be. Many people looking for extra support for compromised or irritated skin choose a higher-strength honey.

Does Manuka honey work for all types of eczema?

The clinical evidence so far focuses on mild atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema. It's not a proven treatment for more severe or infected eczema, which needs proper medical care. 

You have nothing to lose by trying our Manuka Honey as we offer a 100% money back guarantee. If, for any reason, you are not happy with any of our products, simply contact us to request a full refund. Return of unused product may be requested.

The Sweet Takeaway

Manuka honey isn't a miracle cure for eczema, but it is a genuinely interesting, well-researched natural option worth considering for mild flare-ups. Look for a real, lab-tested MGO rating, choose honey that's genuinely Australian Leptospermum honey, and always patch test before using it on sensitive, irritated skin. Just as nature intended, sometimes the simplest ingredients are the ones worth trusting.

If you'd like to try it for yourself, explore Simply Honey's range of MGO-tested, 100% Australian Manuka honey and find the strength that suits you, from an everyday MGO 30+ through to our high-strength MGO 900+.

Sources

Alangari AA, Morris K, Lwaleed BA, Lau L, Jones K, Cooper R, Jenkins R. Honey is potentially effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: Clinical and mechanistic studies. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease. 2017. View source

McLoone P, Warnock M, Fyfe L. Honey: A realistic antimicrobial for disorders of the skin. Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection. 2016. View source

HealthCentral. Is Honey Good for Eczema? Benefits, Research, and How to Use It Safely. View source

Alvarez-Suarez JM, Gasparrini M, Forbes-Hernández TY, Mazzoni L, Giampieri F. The Composition and Biological Activity of Honey: A Focus on Manuka Honey. Foods. 2014. View source

Adams CJ, Boult CH, Deadman BJ, Farr JM, Grainger MN, Manley-Harris M, Snow MJ. Isolation by HPLC and characterisation of the bioactive fraction of New Zealand manuka honey. Carbohydrate Research. 2008. View source

Cokcetin NN, et al. The Antibacterial Activity of Australian Leptospermum Honey Correlates with Methylglyoxal Levels. PLoS ONE. 2016. View source

University of Technology Sydney (ithree institute). Australian Leptospermum honeys as active as those of NZ. The Australasian Beekeeper, March 2017 (reprint, Simply Honey source library).

Brooks P, Boufridi A, Moore G, Pappalardo L. The fluorescence of MM1, leptosperin in Australian and New Zealand Manuka Honeys. Measurement: Food. 2024;15:100192.

NSW Health. Infant botulism fact sheet. View source