Manuka honey may help reduce inflammation and provide relief from psoriasis symptoms. However, more research is needed to fully support its use as an at-home remedy.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition characterized by thick, scaly skin plaques.

Treatment for psoriasis may include a combination of at-home remedies and medical treatments to help relieve symptoms, reduce inflammation, and improve your quality of life.

Anecdotal evidence suggests manuka honey is an effective home remedy for psoriasis. However, the available research is limited and mixed.

Keep reading to learn more about manuka honey and its potential role as a home remedy for psoriasis.

Manuka honey has been used as a topical treatment for thousands of years. It gets its name from the manuka tree — or Leptospermum scoparium — which is native to New Zealand and Australia.

Research suggests it has more antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties than other honey.

For example, it has demonstrated the ability to fight infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus — a type of staph bacterial infection that’s become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat regular staph infections.

These properties may be due to the high amount of methylglyoxal in manuka honey, a compound created when bees process manuka’s nectar. Some research suggests this may help promote tissue regeneration.

As such, manuka honey may help provide a suitable dressing for psoriasis plaques.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition caused by an overactive immune system.

Normally, your T cells — a type of white blood cell — help the body protect itself against harmful foreign substances. With psoriasis, however, T cells do this by overproducing skin cells, which build up on the skin’s surface as thick, scaly plaques.

Manuka honey may affect the immune system and play a role in reducing inflammation, which could help in psoriasis management.

Effects on the immune system

A 2016 review suggests that certain types of honey may affect the immune system, such as acacia honey and fir honeydew honey.

Similarly, a 2017 review suggests that honey may affect the immune system through the fermentation of certain sugars during digestion.

However, it’s unclear whether manuka honey can affect the immune system, and more research is needed to examine the links between honey, psoriasis, and the immune system.

Effects on inflammation

Although manuka honey may not treat the underlying cause of psoriasis, research suggests it may help reduce skin inflammation.

According to a 2023 animal study, several compounds in manuka honey could fight inflammation associated with psoriasis lesions by activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR).

The researchers also note that manuka honey may affect the FLG gene, which plays a key role in inflammatory skin conditions. This could help restore and strengthen the skin barrier, allowing your skin to stay moisturized for longer.

A small 2022 study found that applying raw honey to psoriasis plaques for 1 week helped improve symptoms.

A 2017 study found that applying manuka honey to atopic dermatitis (AD) skin lesions for 1 week helped improve symptoms. Although AD and psoriasis are two different conditions, they have similar skin symptoms.

Despite this positive outlook, it’s important to note that the research on manuka honey and psoriasis is very limited. Manuka honey isn’t an FDA-approved psoriasis treatment.

As such, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional before trying manuka honey. They may suggest an alternative home remedy to help with your symptoms of psoriasis.

Manuka honey is applied to the skin like other creams or lotions. However, since there isn’t much scientific research on the subject, it’s unknown how many times or for how long the honey should be used.

Several over-the-counter (OTC) creams and lotions have been researched more extensively and could help treat your symptoms of psoriasis. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, these may include:

Capsaicin and Mahonia creams may also help treat psoriasis plaques, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

A healthcare professional could recommend the best OTC remedies for your specific condition.

Some home remedies for psoriasis could be combined with other treatments to help improve your symptoms. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, these may include:

  • bathing, such as warm baths, oatmeal baths, or Epsom salt baths
  • herbal remedies, such as aloe vera, turmeric, and tea tree oil
  • stress management, such as trying yoga, breathing techniques, and meditation
  • trying acupuncture or massage
  • eating a well-balanced, anti-inflammatory diet
  • maintaining a healthy-for-you weight
  • staying physically active
  • using a humidifier in your home

Is manuka honey good for inflamed skin?

Some research suggests that manuka honey could help relieve skin inflammation.

What is the best thing to calm psoriasis?

It’s important to avoid anything that could trigger your symptoms of psoriasis. These may include environmental factors, smoking, dry air and low humidity, stress, drinking alcohol, skin injuries, and taking certain medications, among others.

What is the fastest way to cure plaque psoriasis?

There’s no cure for psoriasis, but a healthcare professional could help develop a treatment plan to help you manage your symptoms. This may include OTC and prescription medications, at-home remedies, and phototherapy, among others.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes scaly, inflamed skin plaques.

Manuka honey may provide relief from symptoms, but more research is needed to fully support its use for psoriasis.

Speak with a healthcare professional about the best at-home remedies for your condition. They can help develop the best treatment plan for you.