How Manuka honey supports healthy skin
Honey has been used to promote healing in wounds for at least 3,000 years. It’s now known that honey has antibiotic and prebiotic qualities when ingested, as well as antimicrobial qualities when used topically.
One particular variety of honey is especially effective in this regard – the Manuka honey derived from New Zealand’s native Manuka bush (leptospernum scoparium). Manuka flowers contain a substance called methylglyoxal, which remains bioactive even after bees have transformed the nectar into honey.
Dermatologists and skin care companies are excited about the ability of honey to support healthy skin:
The antibacterial action of manuka honey is not clearly understood, but in vitro studies have shown that methylglyoxal is one of the key phytochemical factors that lend manuka honey it antibacterial properties. It is thought that the amount of methylglyoxal in the honey correlates with the strength of the antibacterial activity. It is also hypothesized that the honey has an osmotic effect, drawing moisture from the environment and dehydrating bacteria.
We use the highest medical-grade Manuka honey to help draw moisture into the skin and promote rapid tissue repair in our AM Treatment, 6000X Sunscreen, AM Serum and PM Treatment products.