Manuka Honey Grade for Skin: What UMF Number to Choose

Manuka botanical title card illustration

For skincare on intact skin, a UMF 10+ to UMF 15+ manuka honey is a reasonable, evidence-informed range. Going higher mostly raises the price, not the proof. No authoritative rule says a given grade treats eczema, acne, psoriasis or dryness. The number on the jar tells you about potency and authenticity. It does not tell you what the honey will do for your skin.

Below, we explain how grading works, what UMF and MGO each measure, what “medical grade” really means, and how to judge a product that contains manuka honey, such as a balm.

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TL;DR

  • UMF 10+ to 15+ is a sensible shopping range for cosmetic use on intact skin. UMF 10+ corresponds to at least 263 mg/kg of MGO, and 15+ to at least 514 mg/kg.
  • UMF and MGO are different labels. UMF checks four compounds, while an MGO number measures one, and you cannot convert one into the other.
  • “Medical grade” refers to sterile wound dressings regulated as devices, not to a stronger jar of food honey. Never put jarred honey on an open, infected or serious wound without medical guidance.
  • Evidence for eczema is preliminary. Patch test first, and ask a dermatologist if you have a persistent rash, infection or significant inflammation.

Table of Contents

How manuka honey is graded

Manuka honey comes from bees feeding on the Leptospermum scoparium shrub in New Zealand and parts of Australia. Its grade is a certification, and the best-known one is UMF, short for Unique Mānuka Factor.

The UMF Association tests four properties, as described in its four-factor rating brochure:

  1. MGO (methylglyoxal): a measure of potency.
  2. Leptosperin: a marker of authenticity, which helps confirm the honey really is manuka.
  3. DHA (dihydroxyacetone): a precursor that helps the honey keep its activity across shelf life.
  4. HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural): a freshness indicator that rises with age and heat exposure.

Only honey that passes all four tests earns a UMF number. That makes UMF a quality assurance as well as a strength rating.

What the UMF numbers mean

The number is tied to a minimum MGO level. According to the UMF Association’s published thresholds, the approximate minimums are:

UMF grade Minimum MGO (mg/kg)
UMF 5+ 83
UMF 10+ 263
UMF 15+ 514
UMF 20+ 829
UMF 25+ 1,197

The jump between grades is steep. UMF 20+ carries roughly three times the MGO of UMF 10+. Yet the UMF Association’s own guidance, on its grading page, frames the higher grades around everyday wellness and eating, not around a skin-treatment threshold. Higher is stronger, not automatically better for your face.

UMF vs. MGO: why the labels do not convert

Shoppers often see jars labeled “MGO 400+” or “MGO 850+” and try to work out a UMF equivalent. The UMF Association says that is not possible. In its certification comparison, it states that MGO and NPA numbers do not convert to UMF, because UMF measures four signature compounds, not one.

What that means when you shop:

  • A jar with only an MGO number tells you about potency. It does not give you the authenticity, shelf-life and freshness checks that sit behind a UMF mark.
  • An MGO figure is not wrong. It is just a narrower claim.
  • If a seller says “MGO 500 equals UMF 12” or something similar, ask for independent documentation. Without it, treat the comparison as marketing.

Which grade for skin: a practical range

The honest answer has two halves.

What the evidence supports: There is no clinical rule that a particular UMF grade cures any skin condition. The studies that exist are small, vary in what they used, and often do not report a grade at all.

What is a sensible buying range: For topical cosmetic use on intact skin, UMF 10+ to 15+ is a reasonable place to shop. It sits at 263 to 514 mg/kg of MGO minimum, which is well past the entry level without paying for the extreme end of the scale.

Here is how we would think about it by goal:

  • Everyday dry skin or a mask: UMF 10+ is plenty. Honey is a natural humectant, which is why it feels moisturizing, though no large-scale studies have examined manuka honey on dry, sensitive skin.
  • Blemish-prone or reactive skin you want to be cautious with: Start at the lower end and patch test. More potent is not gentler.
  • Eczema or psoriasis: Grade should not drive the decision. See the section on eczema below.
  • Any wound: Grade is the wrong question. See the next section.

When you buy, look for a UMF mark with a license number, a clear country of origin, and a jar that says what is in it. Skip jars that rely on vague phrases like “active” or “high strength” without a number.

“Medical grade” manuka honey is not a stronger skincare grade

Search results are full of “medical grade manuka honey” jars sold for skin. The term is easy to misread.

In a clinical setting, medical-grade honey refers to wound-care products. FDA 510(k) summaries, such as the one for MANUKAMED, describe Leptospermum honey dressings that are harvested and processed under controlled conditions. A 510(k) summary for Medihoney dressings describes products designed to provide a moist wound-healing environment, indicated for things like abrasions and minor burns. These are regulated devices, not cosmetic honey.

The practical takeaways:

  • A UMF-certified jar is still food or cosmetic honey. It is not sterile in the way a dressing is.
  • Do not substitute it for a sterile dressing on an open, infected, surgical or serious burn wound. See a clinician for those.
  • A jar labeled “medical grade” is not automatically the same as an FDA-cleared dressing. Check whether the product is actually cleared as a device.
  • Packaging integrity matters in wound care. The FDA has recalled honey-based pads over sterile-barrier failures, which shows why controlled manufacturing is the point of the category.

If you have a wound, ask a pharmacist or physician about an actual wound dressing. If you want a skincare product for intact skin, the rest of this guide applies.

What the research says about eczema, psoriasis and acne

Manuka honey is interesting to dermatologists. A review of honey for skin disorders explains that honey can combine antimicrobial, osmotic, moisture-retentive and immune-modulating effects. The same review stresses that evidence is strongest for some wound uses and limited or conflicting for many other skin conditions.

Eczema

A 2017 pilot study of 14 adults with atopic dermatitis on both sides of the body had participants apply manuka honey overnight for 7 consecutive days. Treated lesions improved against baseline, with a mean severity-score difference of 2 points, while control lesions did not change significantly. That is encouraging. It is also small, open-label, limited to adults, and did not identify an ideal UMF or MGO grade. The authors said randomized controlled trials were still needed.

Pilot study design and eczema severity results

A caution from a neighboring ingredient: a randomized trial of a 2% manuka oil cream in 118 adults with moderate-to-severe eczema found improvement in both the active and the vehicle groups after six weeks, with no statistically significant difference between them. Manuka oil is not manuka honey, but the lesson carries over: an ingredient’s reputation is not proof that a finished product works.

If you have eczema, a persistent rash, signs of infection or significant inflammation, ask a dermatologist before using honey as a treatment. A skincare product should support your skin routine, not replace prescribed medication.

Psoriasis and acne

The same review points to limited and mixed evidence outside wounds. We would not choose a grade based on claims about psoriasis or acne. If you want to read how we approached these topics, our own notes are in our psoriasis article and our acne-safe balm trial.

Patch test before you commit

Whatever the grade, test first. Dermatology guidance summarized by Medical News Today supports putting a small amount on a limited area, watching for 24 hours, and stopping if irritation appears.

A simple routine:

  1. Apply a pea-sized amount to the inner forearm or behind the ear.
  2. Leave it alone and check at 24 hours, and again at 48 hours.
  3. Look for redness, itching, swelling or a rash. Wash off and stop if any appear.
  4. If the skin stays calm, try a small patch on the area you actually want to treat.

People with bee-product sensitivities should be especially careful, since honey and propolis both come from bees. We cover the signs and timing in our guide to manuka honey skin reactions and a slower method in our patch-testing guide for sensitive skin.

If your skin is persistently reactive, a professional assessment can save guesswork. Clinics that do skin analysis and personalized plans, such as the one described in this overview of facial and skin treatments at a UK clinic, show what a structured look at your skin involves. In the US, a board-certified dermatologist is the person to ask.

Perspective: why the grade matters less in a balm

We make a whipped beef tallow balm with manuka honey and propolis, so we get this question a lot. Here is how we think about it.

First, a balm is a formula, not a jar of honey. In our balm, the grass-fed tallow carries much of the moisturizing job and the honey is one ingredient inside it. Judge a balm on the whole ingredient list, how it feels, how it absorbs, and how your skin behaves over a week or two. A big number on one ingredient does not settle that.

Second, we do not want to oversell. We will not tell you our balm treats eczema or psoriasis, and neither will any honest honey seller. What we hear from customers is that their skin feels more hydrated and looks smoother within days, and many people with sensitive skin like that it is free of synthetic ingredients. Those are experiences, not clinical results. Our own write-ups, like our look at a manuka honey and tallow balm, say the same thing.

Perspective: why the grade matters less in a balm — overview diagram

Third, ask any brand for specifics. If a product advertises manuka honey, ask which certification it uses and what the product page discloses. We would rather you ask us than guess. And whatever you buy, patch test it.

The short version is simple: choose a certified, fresh honey in a sensible range, expect a modest benefit, and keep your dermatologist in the loop if you have a skin condition.

— Michael

Try a manuka honey balm for yourself

If you would rather skip sourcing and grading honey on your own, our Whipped Beef Tallow Balm with Manuka Honey & Propolis comes in a 2.4 oz jar, and there is also a 2.4 oz tin. It is a whipped, chemical-free balm made for whole-body use, including sensitive areas. We are a veteran-owned business and back every order with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Not sure where to begin? Browse the full collection, which includes a mint lip balm and a sun balm with zinc oxide. If you want to test a small amount first, The Try-It Duo pairs a Tallow Balm Lite with a lip balm.

Whipped Beef Tallow Balm with Manuka Honey & Propolis - 2.4 oz Jar

Buying checklist for manuka honey skincare

Use this whether you are buying a jar of honey or a product that contains it.

  • Look for a UMF mark with a license number, not just “manuka” on the front.
  • Stay in the 10+ to 15+ range for cosmetic use unless a clinician says otherwise.
  • Do not compare MGO and UMF numbers as if they were the same scale.
  • Ignore “medical grade” on a food jar and look for FDA clearance if you actually need a wound dressing.
  • Read the whole ingredient list when buying a balm or cream.
  • Patch test for at least 24 hours, longer if your skin is reactive.
  • Be wary of cure claims for eczema, psoriasis or acne.
  • Check the return policy so a bad fit costs you little.

FAQ

What UMF manuka honey is best for skin?

For cosmetic use on intact skin, UMF 10+ to 15+ is a reasonable range. That corresponds to a minimum of 263 to 514 mg/kg of MGO. No clinical standard says a specific grade works best for any skin condition, so patch test and judge by how your skin responds.

Is medical grade manuka honey better for skin?

Not in the way the label suggests. Medical-grade honey refers to sterile wound dressings regulated by the FDA as devices. A jar sold as “medical grade” is not automatically one of those. For open or infected wounds, see a clinician rather than using jarred honey.

Is UMF the same as MGO?

No. UMF measures four compounds, MGO, leptosperin, DHA and HMF, while MGO is a single potency measure. The UMF Association says MGO numbers do not convert to UMF, so be skeptical of any equivalence chart without independent documentation.

Can you put manuka honey on eczema?

Some early research is encouraging, including a small 2017 adult study, but it is preliminary and did not establish a best grade. Patch test first, and talk to a dermatologist before using honey as a treatment, especially with a persistent rash, infection or significant inflammation.

Sources