Did you know as the outermost layer of cells on the body, the skin helps to protect the inner organs from infectious agents? Yet sometimes, bacteria manage to "nest" in some of the skin cells.
When that happens, the body's defense mechanisms kick into action.
As endothelial cells fight invading microbes, skin can become red, swollen, and warm to the touch, In other words, it becomes inflamed.
Application of active manuka honey to the skin can bring relief to inflamed and irritated skin cells.
That fact explains why certain treatments for skin irritation make use of manuka honey products.
Active manuka honey depresses the build-up of antibacterial proteins that occurs while the skin is fighting an invasive and infectious agent.
Manuka honey products contain ingredients that can relieve the pain that is associated with the accompanying build-up of anti-toxic proteins.
Together those two skin care aids supplement the enhanced supply of blood in the affected skin cells.
That enhanced blood supply brings added oxygen to affected skin cells.
That enhanced blood supply carries an added level of nutrients to cells that have been damaged by microbial invaders.
The nutrition and oxygen can work with honey to heal rough and reddened skin.
Skin repair calls for a chorus of biochemical reactions.
Many of those reactions are catalyzed by enzymes.
A number of the body's enzymes depend on the presence of co-enzymes.
Co-enzymes contain important minerals.
That fact spells out the basic reason that each person should strive to eat a diverse number of foods rich in minerals, minerals like zinc and copper.
So does active manuka honey contain one or more of those minerals? Do manuka honey products provide the skin with an added source of zinc and copper? No they do not.
Application of honey to the skin moistens the skin.
It places any damaged endothelial cells in a healing environment.
Still stressed skin responds best when it also receives the proper nutrients, vital nutrients.
There is nothing wrong with exposing the skin to a honey that can facilitate formation of skin cells in a manner that helps to lift any scab.
The lifting of that scab creates a space on the surface of the body; in that space new endothelial cells can form adjacent to the boundaries of any repaired cells.
Still, anyone who looks to honey to treat damaged skin should ask this question: "How healthy will those new cells be?" Healthy skin cells are firm to the touch.
They contain proteins such as collagen and elastin.
Effective skin care stimulates the production of such proteins.
Aging skin looses its ability to make collagen and elastin.
Aging skin lacks those two proteins.
That is why aging skin seems to loose its strength.
It begins to wrinkle and sag.
No one wants to repair damaged skin to a condition similar to that of an aging skin cell.
That is why skin repair should not begin and end with application of a simple honey.
It feels good when active manuka honey covers an area of damaged skin, but it also feels good to be able to show-off a terrific tan.
Not everything that feels good encourages formation of healthy skin.
Some people eat fatty snack foods, because that satisfies there hunger.
It makes them feel good.
Yet such foods do not give skin cells needed vitamins and minerals.
Effective skin care must include the use of products that enhance performance of the body's natural biochemical reactions.
Such products help the skin on the face to retain its well-toned and youthful appearance.