Bee products advice against skin damage

Experts talked about the positive effects of bee venom and propolis on itchy skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and eczema.

Pointing out that dry and sensitive skin is quite common in autumn, Prof. Dr. Zekayi Kutlubay pointed out that dry skin and some skin disorders seen with it increase during this period. Kutlubay, who stated that problems such as atopic dermatitis and eczema are at the top of these, said, “Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by recurrent eczema and itching that affects 20-25 percent of children and 2-3 percent of adults and is seen in people with atopic tendency. In atopic dermatitis; providing good moisture to the skin is the most important step in the treatment and healing of lesions. Recent scientific studies show that natural substances such as bee venom and propolis can be effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and other skin problems.”

In a 2016 study conducted in Korea, the effects of bee venom on atopic dermatitis were examined and 136 atopic dermatitis patients were divided into two groups and followed up for 4 weeks. Prof. Dr. Zekayi Kutlubay said, “According to the results of the study, the group administered bee venom had less eczema severity and itching complaints. These findings reveal that bee venom can be a safe and effective option for atopic dermatitis.”

Bee Products Specialist Dr. Aslı Elif Tanuğur Samancı pointed out that the effects of propolis in skin disorders and its use for skin damage have been the subject of many scientific studies and said the following: “A study conducted in 2021 revealed that a skin care cream formulation to which propolis extract was added helped alleviate the symptoms of atopic dermatitis. The cream with propolis was found to improve the quality of life of patients with atopic dermatitis, and another study conducted in 2018 showed that creams containing propolis can be effective in individuals with moderate to severe psoriasis. In 86 percent of the participants treated with propolis cream, a 33 percent reduction in the psoriasis area and severity index was detected, and participants in the experimental group stated that propolis cream was effective against psoriasis. The participants evaluated this effect as “excellent” by 62 percent and as “good” by 24 percent.”