Published by Organic Yellow · Updated
Food honey and medical honey dressings serve different purposes. Understand the limits of face-mask claims and why a food stick is not a wound treatment.
Honey in a kitchen cupboard should not be treated as a tested acne treatment or a wound dressing. Research about honey in clinical care does not establish that putting a food honey on your face will clear acne, soothe eczema or heal a cut.
What is medical honey?
Medical honey products are prepared for use in clinical wound care. Oxford Health NHS's patient guide explains the difference between sterile medical dressings and table honey, and advises seeking professional advice before using table honey on wounds. Those directions concern medical products and professional care, not an endorsement of honey sold as food.
Do not apply Organic Yellow food honey to open wounds, burns or infected skin. A food purity report does not establish sterility, suitability as a dressing, or a treatment result. If a wound needs care, ask a health professional which dressing and cleaning steps are appropriate.
Can honey clear acne?
This page does not have evidence establishing Organic Yellow honey as an acne treatment. Claims about antibacterial activity in a laboratory are not the same as a clinical result on people's skin. Likewise, evidence about one specialised honey cannot automatically be transferred to another honey or a flavoured blend.
The American Academy of Dermatology's acne-care advice recommends gentle cleansing, avoiding scrubbing and following appropriate treatment. An overnight food-honey spot treatment and a sugar scrub do not follow from that advice. Persistent or painful acne is a reason to discuss suitable treatment with a dermatologist.
What about a homemade face mask?
Enjoying the feel of an ingredient is different from demonstrating a skin benefit. We cannot recommend a mask duration, frequency or amount as an effective skincare routine. A small home trial also cannot establish that a food mixture is suitable for repeated use or for everyone with a skin condition.
AAD explains that contact dermatitis, an irritated or allergic skin reaction, can follow contact with everyday products. Stop using a mixture if it irritates your skin, and seek advice for a persistent reaction. Avoid ingredients you know you are allergic to.
Is raw honey better for skin?
Raw is a food-processing description, not proof of a skin-treatment result. Clear, cloudy or crystallised appearance cannot tell you whether a honey will help acne. Read raw versus processed honey for the information a seller should document.
Our honey range is sold for eating and sweetening food. Neither individual sticks nor jars should be chosen as substitutes for tested skincare or wound-care products.
Correction
We removed the unsupported claim that we had tried this as a treatment, the mask and overnight acne instructions, the sugar-scrub recommendation, and claims about verified cold filling and preserved enzyme activity in our products.
General food information from a honey seller, based on the linked sources. This article has not been medically reviewed.