Is Honey Really Good for Acne-Prone Skin?

Unraveling the sweetest truth behind this supposedly natural skin remedy

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We all know acne has a funny way of appearing on the face at the wrong time.

When ready for a date, a big pimple says Hi!

When you are scheduled for a serious meeting, another breakout of red bumps on your face surprises you and everyone else, and for all the wrong reasons.

I know you might have been struggling with costly serums, weird ointments and all manner of trendy creams in the name of getting rid of pimples and acne on your face.

I’m sure you have tried some internet skin care routines that keep promising magic on your skin, mostly with minimal or terrible results.

Yes! It is hard to imagine that honey, the golden liquid made by bees out in the bushes somewhere, could be the number one remedy for your skin acne.

But is it really true that honey can easily get rid of acne and restore that extra smooth and   admirable skin? Or is this another kind of internet buzz that is meant to ruffle up the skin care and beauty world? Let’s break this honey down further. Read on…

Why is honey a skin care star out of the blue or bee?

Maybe I should first take you through a small history about honey and how the ancient people used it.

It has been proven that people back then in Egypt used honey as a medicinal liquid that helped to heal wounds, whereas some communities used honey for aesthetic purposes, like enhancing beauty and skin care.

And in the modern day, honey still forms part of the ingredients used in skin care and beauty.

You will find honey used in part: in face masks, countless skin care products and skin cleansers.

But do you know why?

Honey has natural extracts that are so essential for managing skin problems.

I think I should break it down even further on exactly what different types of honey contain, right?

• Natural antibacterial extracts
• Antioxidants
• Anti-inflammatory ingredients
• Skin comforting extracts
• Moisturizer

All these listed extracts and ingredients have given honey a good name in the beauty and skin care industry for the longest time.

Now, can honey really be the right remedy for skin-prone acne?

My immediate response is always, probably, yes!

But   for you to fully understand whether honey can be the best remedy for your skin, and most of all, helps in removing Acne, you must understand how acne comes about.

• Firstly, skin acne begins to form after there is a build-up of dead skin, bacteria and oil in your skin pores. And this is what ends up looking like big reddish pimples or facial marks.

Let’s assume your face gets some bacterial build up in the pores, honey, with its anti-bacterial extracts will help remove the bacteria in there, leaving the acne drying off and soothes your skin.

Definitely honey cannot work like magic or entirely as medicine or something like that, but it will help lower the bacteria, thus reliving your skin from the infection and buildup.

• And secondly, when your skin has big reddish pimples shouting out loud, and of course feeling more sensitive and irritating, honey comes in with special anti-inflammatory pigments that will help reduce the size of the acne or pimple as you put it, and leave your skin feeling soothed and feeling fresh.

And it is good to note that honey may not transform your face or generally skin as such to that of a bill-board model, but will relive you from the irritations or embarrassing itchiness.

• Lastly, let’s say you have tried all the kinds of harsh and expensive cleansers and   every trending skin treatment to try to get rid of acne or pimples on your skin, and unfortunately, all these leads to terribly dry skin.

And, a dry skin pushes the oil glands, especially on your face, to secrete a lot of oil, leaving a greasy face with many more big oily acne/pimples.

This is where honey comes in with its natural moisturizing pigments/extracts that help restore the moisture your skin requires to work naturally.

And as a result, your skin ends up feeling alive and smooth again.

Which type of honey works best for acne-prone skin?

Now, this is where you need to be extra keen, because not every honey is helpful with acne or pimples.

Have you heard of raw honey? How about Manuka honey?

-Raw honey

Raw honey is simply that type of honey that has very little processing or simply put that kind of honey that has been extracted with it’s original or natural ingredients.

Mostly, raw honey has the right ingredients or extracts that help with skin care and acne to be precise.

-Manuka honey

Manuka honey is a special type of honey extracted in Australia and New Zealand.

Manuka honey is celebrated for its unique anti-bacterial elements that are ideal for skin care and removal of acne.

However, based on how manuka honey has been celebrated all over the world for its rich proponents of skin care, it comes at a big price, and you might need to rob the bank to get some for your acne-prone skin.

How best can I apply honey on my acne prone skin?

Many people go on to clean and rinse their kin well before applying a thin layer of honey, for example on their faces.

They later leve the applied skin for about 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it out with clean water.

On the other hand, some people go on to combine honey with other products, for example:

• aloe vera
• Oat meal
• Fresh yoghurt

Most of all, your main objective with applying either honey on the acne-prone skin or honey with a combination of other ingredients to soothe the skin and

Things that honey cannot do at all

This is where you need to come to terms with the actual truth and not fallacy or myths about honey and its usefulness on your skin.

Honey as a remedy for acne-prone skin cannot do the following:

• Honey cannot get rid of severe acne immediately.
• Honey cannot be the replacement of medication for your skin
• Honey cannot   permanently prevent future occurrences or reoccurrence of acne or pimples
• Honey cannot remove acne scars immediately

It is important to be cautious enough before using honey, and be wary when someone tells you that honey is an instant remedy for acne or related conditions.

Honey helps to manage the condition and works even best when combined with other recommended ingredients to soothe and relive your skin.

What are the prospective risks to factor in before using honey?

While honey is   just fine when some people use it, other people may have to be more cautious before using it.

Few things to consider before using honey on your skin:

• Some people can present allergic reactions
• The results of using honey on your skin to manage acne may vary from person to persons
• Honey can be sticky on the skin and thus feel uncomfortable
• If you experience severe acne, you might need to seek professional medical advice
• If unsure, you can do a patch test to be sure rather than applying your entire face with honey and end up with skin reactions

But what does scientists and researchers say about honey?

Researchers and dermatologists    point out that honey has been known for the longest time to be containing anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredients that may be useful in managing skin problems including wounds.

Over and above, researchers go on to state that honey may work best when used in combination with other essential skin care ingredients approved by professional dermatologists. 

What are the signs that show honey is worth using for your acne-prone skin?

When you have mild acne

• When you prefer natural remedies or DIY routines for acne-prone skin
• When your skin is itchy and have swollen reddish spots
• You aim to restore your skin moisture without relying on aggressive skin care products

What is the Verdict by Beauty Trends and dermatologists?

Cometh the time, cometh the hour!

We have to offer you our verdict as per research, dermatologists and Beauty Trends’ findings.

Does honey offer the right remedy for acne-prone skin? For many of us, it might be a strong yes or rather a mild yes.

Honey helps in providing anti-bacterial, skin soothing and a fresh skin for you.

Even if it helps lower skin irritations, it may not work like magic on your skin, but a remedy that works best when placed aptly in your skin routine and blended with other approved skin cleansers or moisturizers.

At least now you know the golden jar filled with honey and that sweetens your morning pancakes at home does a lot more than whetting your breakfast.

And as if it is not enough, honey smells so fresh and better by far than your ordinary acne ointments.