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Bee venom creams are often promoted as miracle skincare products, claiming to reduce everything from wrinkles and dark spots to acne and skin tags. But do these creams really live up to the hype? Let’s take a closer look at what bee venom actually is, how it works, and what the science really says about its benefits.
What Is Bee Venom?
Bee venom is a natural substance produced by honeybees, made up of a complex mix of active compounds. One of the most powerful components is melittin, which accounts for around 50% of the venom. Melittin is known for its strong anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and that’s why researchers have started exploring how bee venom might help with certain skin conditions. However, the scientific evidence so far is still limited and often inconclusive.
Benefits of Bee Venom

Bee Venom for Skin
When it comes to skincare, bee venom has been tested in a few small studies—especially for acne and eczema. One study showed that using a bee venom cream helped reduce both inflamed pimples and non-inflamed bumps. Another trial, where participants used a purified bee venom serum twice a day, reported lower acne severity. That said, this study didn’t include a placebo group, so it’s unclear how much of the improvement came from the treatment itself.
For eczema, researchers found that applying a moisturizer with bee venom twice daily for four weeks led to smaller eczema patches and less itchiness compared to a standard moisturizer. These results are promising but still preliminary.
When it comes to anti-aging, bee venom creams have been tested on fine lines and wrinkles. In one study, women applied a diluted bee venom serum to their faces twice a day and saw modest improvements in wrinkle depth and number. However, like the acne studies, this one didn’t include a placebo group, which makes the results harder to interpret.
Overall, early research suggests that bee venom creams might help calm inflammation and reduce acne-causing bacteria. There’s also a hint they could offer mild benefits for eczema and wrinkles. But it’s important to note that the concentrations used in these studies were very low—usually between 0.005% and 0.01%—to avoid skin irritation. Some products on the market might not contain real bee venom at all, so always read the ingredients list carefully.
Other Health Benefits
Beyond creams, bee venom has also been studied in injectable form for conditions like chronic pain and autoimmune disorders. In some studies, injecting bee venom into acupuncture points helped reduce pain and improve mobility in people with knee osteoarthritis. Another small study found pain relief in patients with frozen shoulder, though their range of motion didn’t improve.
Bee venom injections have also been explored for neurological and autoimmune conditions. For example, people with Parkinson’s disease reported better motor function and quality of life after bee venom acupuncture treatments. On the other hand, live bee sting therapy didn’t seem to offer benefits for patients with multiple sclerosis.
Should You Try Bee Venom Creams?
While the idea of using bee venom for skincare may sound exciting, the research is still in its early stages. The evidence supporting its use for acne, eczema, and wrinkles is limited and not yet strong enough to recommend it over more proven options.
If you’re serious about improving your skin, consider using products with well-studied ingredients like niacinamide. It’s backed by solid research and has been shown to help with everything from uneven skin tone to fine lines and large pores.
Bee venom may have potential, but until more rigorous studies are done, it’s best seen as an experimental ingredient rather than a miracle solution.
Top supplement choices
- Niacinamide (cream) – topically
- Vitamin C (cream) – topically
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Citations
Carpena M, Nuñez-Estevez B, Soria-Lopez A, Simal-Gandara J. Bee Venom: An Updating Review of Its Bioactive Molecules and Its Health Applications. Nutrients. 2020 Oct 31;12(11):3360. doi: 10.3390/nu12113360. PMID: 33142794; PMCID: PMC7693387.
Cho SY, Lee YE, Doo KH, Lee JH, Jung WS, Moon SK, Park JM, Ko CN, Kim H, Rhee HY, Park HJ, Park SU. Efficacy of Combined Treatment with Acupuncture and Bee Venom Acupuncture as an Adjunctive Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease. J Altern Complement Med. 2018 Jan;24(1):25-32. doi: 10.1089/acm.2016.0250. Epub 2017 Jul 28. PMID: 28753030.
Conrad VJ, Hazan LL, Latorre AJ, Jakubowska A, Kim CMH. Efficacy and Safety of Honey Bee Venom (Apis mellifera) Dermal Injections to Treat Osteoarthritis Knee Pain and Physical Disability: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2019 Aug;25(8):845-855. doi: 10.1089/acm.2019.0121. Epub 2019 Jul 8. PMID: 31274334.
Han SM, Hong IP, Woo SO, Chun SN, Park KK, Nicholls YM, Pak SC. The beneficial effects of honeybee-venom serum on facial wrinkles in humans. Clin Interv Aging. 2015 Oct 1;10:1587-92. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S84940. PMID: 26491274; PMCID: PMC4598227.
Han SM, Lee KG, Pak SC. Effects of cosmetics containing purified honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) venom on acne vulgaris. J Integr Med. 2013 Sep;11(5):320-6. doi: 10.3736/jintegrmed2013043. PMID: 24063779.
Han SM, Pak SC, Nicholls YM, Macfarlane N. Evaluation of anti-acne property of purified bee venom serum in humans. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2016 Dec;15(4):324-329. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12227. Epub 2016 May 24. PMID: 27216488.
Koh PS, Seo BK, Cho NS, Park HS, Park DS, Baek YH. Clinical effectiveness of bee venom acupuncture and physiotherapy in the treatment of adhesive capsulitis: a randomized controlled trial. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2013 Aug;22(8):1053-62. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2012.10.045. Epub 2013 Jan 24. PMID: 23352187.
Wesselius T, Heersema DJ, Mostert JP, Heerings M, Admiraal-Behloul F, Talebian A, van Buchem MA, De Keyser J. A randomized crossover study of bee sting therapy for multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2005 Dec 13;65(11):1764-8. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000184442.02551.4b. Epub 2005 Oct 12. PMID: 16221950.
You CE, Moon SH, Lee KH, Kim KH, Park CW, Seo SJ, Cho SH. Effects of Emollient Containing Bee Venom on Atopic Dermatitis: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Base-Controlled, Multicenter Study of 136 Patients. Ann Dermatol. 2016 Oct;28(5):593-599. doi: 10.5021/ad.2016.28.5.593. Epub 2016 Sep 30. PMID: 27746639; PMCID: PMC5064189.
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