People have been utilizing the medicinal properties of healing honey for thousands of years. Natural honey is used in traditional medicine to heal respiratory ailments, joint pain, and skin conditions, including treating adult acne. Healing manuka honey, made from the New Zealand tea tree plant, Leptospermum scoparium, has been found to have much more potent antibacterial power than other honeys. The essential oil extracted from the same plant, manuka oil, is as well so rich in cleansing and healing properties that it can be used as a safe and effective acne treatment.
Treating Adult Acne Naturally
Acne is essentially an inflammatory skin condition caused by bacteria which becomes trapped within the skin, usually by oil. Although it is generally associated with the teenage years, many people today are exploring different ways of treating adult acne, such as following an acne diet, or experimenting with a natural acne treatment.
Naturally oily skin, a hormonal imbalance from medication or the menstrual cycle, allergies, stress, and diet all contribute to breakouts of adult acne. Harsh topical acne creams tend to irritate and dry out the skin. They also are not always an effective acne treatment, especially for treating adult acne, which calls for a solution that will both protect from bacteria, but also heal the skin to prevent scarring.
Healing Manuka Honey as a Natural Effective Acne Treatment
Using manuka honey as a natural acne treatment is an ideal way to both cleanse and nourish. Professor Peter Molan, of the University of Waikato in New Zealand, studied the potential of this native honey, well-known for its medicinal qualities by the indigenous Maori people. According to the BBC News article (June 8, 2004), "Harnessing honey's healing power" by Angie Knox, Professor Molan discovered that manuka honey has stronger healing properties than regular honey because of the unspecified phytochemical or phytochemicals known as the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF).
Where all honey is to some degree antiseptic because of the creation of hydrogen peroxide from an enzyme introduced by bees during honey production, the UMF is unique to the honey made from the New Zealand tea tree bush. Not only is the UMF a potent antibacterial and anti-fungal component, making manuka honey ideal for treating adult acne, as well as other conditions, but it also acts to reduce inflammation and calm the skin. The naturally moist environment that manuka honey yields is undesirable for bacterial growth, making manuka an effective preventative acne treatment as well.
How does one use healing manuka honey for treating adult acne? There are natural products which include manuka honey in their ingredients, although it is difficult to decipher how high the UMF level, and how great the quantity of manuka honey. Look for natural products with manuka oil from New Zealand, and a UMF level above 10. The natural honey can also be directly applied as a spot acne blemish treatment, or evenly distributed on the face as a natural facial acne treatment. Gently rub the honey into the skin in a circular motion, leave on for up to ten minutes, and rinse off with cool or tepid water.
Manuka Oil as a Natural Effective Acne Treatment
Extracted from the same New Zealand tea tree plant, manuka oil is an essential oil with remarkable antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, similar to tea tree oil made from the Australian tea tree plant. Like manuka honey, the oil can be used as an effective acne treatment that won't dry out or harm the skin. The only drawback is that manuka oil has a very intense aroma.
To use manuka oil for treating adult acne, do not put the essential oil directly on the skin; essential oils are highly concentrated and need to be diluted. Blend a few drops in one or two ounces of witch hazel, or water, and dab on the skin with a clean cotton cloth, or a cotton ball. This acne blemish treatment can be used daily to treat present acne, and prevent more bacteria from causing skin problems.
Sources:
Knox, Angie. "Harnessing honey's healing power." (BBC News, June 8, 2004).
The University of Waikato Honey Research Unit "What's Special about Active Manuka Honey."
Brenna Coleman - Brenna is a freelance writer focusing on natural health and beauty. She has written hundreds of articles, helping readers find ways to ...
Join the Conversation