Honey for Rosacea: The Kanuka Honey Trial Explained
Honey for rosacea gained attention after a 2015 randomized trial in New Zealand tested a medical-grade kanuka honey cream on people with rosacea. The results were encouraging: more people using the honey product saw meaningful improvement than those using a control cream. But the product was a specially formulated medical cream, not honey from a jar. This article explains the trial, what it means for people with rosacea, and the skin care habits that help most. For general skin topics, see honey for skin.
For general education only, not medical advice. Our honey is a food and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
What rosacea is
Rosacea is a long-term skin condition that causes facial redness, visible blood vessels, flushing and sometimes bumps that look like acne. It often affects the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Triggers include sun, heat, spicy food, alcohol, stress and some skin products.
There is no cure, but treatments can control symptoms well.
The kanuka honey for rosacea trial
The trial, published in BMJ Open as Randomised controlled trial of topical kanuka honey for the treatment of rosacea, included 138 adults. Half applied a medical-grade cream of 90 percent kanuka honey and 10 percent glycerine twice daily; the other half used a control cream.
After eight weeks, roughly a third of the honey group had clinically significant improvement, about twice the rate in the control group. Dermatology Times reported on the results.
| Detail | Trial |
|---|---|
| Participants | 138 adults with rosacea |
| Product | Medical kanuka honey cream (90% honey, 10% glycerine) |
| Comparison | Control cream |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Result | About twice as many improved with honey |
Why kanuka honey?
Kanuka is a New Zealand shrub related to manuka. Its honey has been studied for anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Researchers chose a medical-grade version to ensure consistency and safety on facial skin.
Results from kanuka honey cannot be assumed for other honeys, which have different compositions.
Why kitchen honey is different
The trial product was a standardized, sterile cream formulated for skin. Kitchen honey varies, is not sterile, and can be sticky and hard to use on the face. It may also contain pollen that irritates sensitive skin.
If you are curious about honey for rosacea, ask a dermatologist whether a medical honey product is suitable for you.
Rosacea skin is sensitive
People with rosacea often react to fragrances, alcohol-based toners, exfoliants and some natural ingredients. Patch test any new product on a small area of the jawline or neck for a few days before using it on the whole face.
Stop using any product that causes burning, stinging or more redness.
Rosacea care basics
Dermatologists commonly recommend:
- Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, ideally mineral-based
- Gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and moisturizer
- Avoiding personal triggers like heat, spicy food or alcohol
- Prescription creams, gels or oral medicines for flares
- Laser or light treatments for visible blood vessels
Honey for rosacea and diet
Some people notice that hot drinks trigger flushing. If you enjoy honey in tea, let the tea cool to warm before drinking. There is no evidence that eating honey improves rosacea.
Ocular rosacea
Rosacea can affect the eyes, causing dryness, burning and redness. Never put honey in or near the eyes without medical advice. See an eye doctor for eye symptoms.
Allergies and honey on the face
If you have pollen or bee product allergies, avoid honey on your face unless your dermatologist approves. Our article on honey allergy explains possible reactions.
When to see a dermatologist
See a dermatologist if redness persists, bumps appear, or symptoms affect your eyes or confidence. Early treatment can prevent rosacea from progressing.
What the trial means
The kanuka trial is one of the better-designed studies of honey for skin conditions. It suggests a medical honey cream could be an option for some people with rosacea. More trials comparing it with standard treatments would help.
Our article on medical grade honey explains how these products are made.
Honey for rosacea compared with standard treatments
The kanuka trial compared honey cream with a control cream, not with standard prescription treatments like metronidazole, azelaic acid or ivermectin creams. That means we do not know how honey for rosacea compares with the treatments dermatologists use most.
A future trial comparing a medical honey product directly with these medicines would be the most useful next step.
Common rosacea triggers to track
Keeping a simple diary can help identify triggers. Common ones include sun exposure, hot weather, saunas, intense exercise, spicy foods, hot drinks, red wine and other alcohol, wind, stress and some skin care ingredients like alcohol, menthol and witch hazel.
Once you know your triggers, small changes like cooling hot drinks or wearing a wide-brimmed hat can reduce flares noticeably.
Honey for rosacea: questions for your dermatologist
If you are interested in honey for rosacea, useful questions to ask include whether a medical honey cream is available where you live, whether it suits your rosacea type, how it would fit with your current treatments, and how long to try it before judging results.
Honey for your table
Al Safa honey is raw food honey, never heated above hive temperature, and not a skin treatment. We are glad to share it for breakfast and baking.
Find our honeys in the shop.
Sources
Outside health sources we used for this article. They open in a new tab.
- Randomised controlled trial of topical kanuka honey for the treatment of rosacea · BMJ Open (via PMC)
- Honey may improve rosacea severity · Dermatology Times
- Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review (Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013) · PubMed
Frequently asked questions
- Does honey help rosacea?
- A 2015 trial found a medical kanuka honey cream improved rosacea more than a control cream.
- Can I use kitchen honey for rosacea?
- It is not the same as the trial product. Ask a dermatologist before trying.
- What is kanuka honey?
- Honey from a New Zealand shrub related to manuka.
- Is manuka honey good for rosacea?
- There is less direct evidence for manuka. The trial used kanuka.
- Can honey irritate rosacea?
- Yes, for some people. Patch test first and stop if it stings.
- What helps rosacea most?
- Sunscreen, gentle skin care, avoiding triggers and prescription treatments.
- How long did the rosacea trial last?
- Eight weeks, with assessments at two and eight weeks.
- Does eating honey help rosacea?
- There is no evidence that eating honey improves rosacea.
Al Safa Honey is a food producer, not a medical provider. Nothing here is medical advice, and these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Talk to your doctor about any health concern. Never give honey of any kind to a baby under 12 months old.