Last Reviewed: January, 2024
Author(s): Dr Hamish Wu, Auckland; Jihee Sun, Medical Student; and Dr Yena Kim, Dermatologist, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand (2024)
Previous contributors: Vanessa Ngan, Staff Writer (2005)
Reviewing dermatologist: Dr Ian Coulson
Edited by the DermNet content department
How it works
Types of honey
How to use
For centuries, honey has been used as an effective remedy for wounds, burns, and ulcers. In recent years there has been renewed interest in honey’s medicinal properties.
Honey is a supersaturated sugar solution made by bees. It is primarily made up of fructose and glucose, as well as minor components including proteins, enzymes, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.
Honey’s remarkable antibacterial and wound-healing properties are attributable to its:
Many features in the composition of honey together give it antimicrobial properties.
Antimicrobial action |
High osmolality |
Honey is a saturated or supersaturated solution of sugars that has strong interaction with water molecules. The lack of ‘free’ water inhibits the growth of microorganisms. |
When honey is diluted by wound exudates, hydrogen peroxide is produced via a glucose oxidase enzyme reaction. This is released slowly to provide antibacterial activity but does not damage tissue. However, acidity, catalase and protein-digesting enzymes in wound fluids may reduce the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide. |
Antibacterial phytochemicals |
Some kinds of honey still have antimicrobial activity even when hydrogen peroxide activity has been removed. The honey from mānuka trees (Leptospermum scoparium) has been found to have high levels of antibacterial phytochemicals. |
Honey also appears to stimulate lymphocytic and phagocytic activity, which are key body immune responses in the battle against infection.
Honey is most commonly used as a topical antibacterial agent to treat infections in a wide range of wound types. These include:
In many cases, honey is used when conventional antibacterial treatment with antibiotics and antiseptics are ineffective.
Honey can also be used as a first-aid treatment for burns as it has anti-inflammatory activity.
Medical-grade honey used for wound care is sterilised and laboratory-tested. It is available in various forms including creams, gels, pastes, and impregnated dressings. These products can be made from various types of honey, including but not limited to polyfloral, buckwheat, and mānuka honey.
Different types of honey exhibit differences in antimicrobial activity. Honey from different sources has been studied, and a few types have been identified as having particularly high antibacterial activity.
Mānuka honey is gathered from the mānuka tree, Leptospermum scoparium, which is native to New Zealand. It has high antibacterial activity, with about half of this type of honey having high levels of non-peroxide activity. This means that even after the hydrogen peroxide is neutralised, it still exhibits substantial antibacterial activity.
Honey produced from mānuka trees is tested for antibacterial activity and is given a potency rating called a UMF (Unique Mānuka Factor). The honey is tested for the key signature compounds leptosperin, methylglyoxal, and dihydroxyacetone. The higher the UMF rating, the greater the level of UMF properties.
Medical-grade UMF honey is sterilised by gamma irradiation, without loss of antibacterial activity.