Which Skin Condition Are You Treating? A Mānuka Oil Decision Tree

Skin Condition → Mānuka Oil Protocol — Quick Reference

Find your condition. Use the row to pick the starting dilution, carrier, and the guide that goes deeper. Eczema lives on this page; the rest route out to dedicated protocols.

Your condition	Starting dilution	Recommended carrier	Application frequency	Expected first visible change
Eczema (face)	1% (3 drops per 10ml)	Jojoba	Twice daily	2–4 weeks
Eczema (body, flexures)	2–3% (6–9 drops per 10ml)	Jojoba or squalane	Twice daily	2–4 weeks
Acne (general, all ages)	1–2% (3–6 drops per 10ml)	Jojoba	Evening daily	3–6 weeks
Psoriasis (mild plaque)	3% (9 drops per 10ml)	Jojoba or rosehip	Twice daily over moisturiser	4–8 weeks
Rosacea / reactive flushing	0.5% (1–2 drops per 10ml)	Squalane	Every other evening for 2 weeks, then nightly	4–8 weeks

Acute Flare vs Maintenance Phase — The Two Modes of Use

Factor	Acute flare phase	Maintenance phase
Dilution range	2–3% (body), 1% (face)	1–2% (body), 0.5–1% (face)
Application frequency	Twice daily	Once daily or every other day
Duration	2–6 weeks until flare settles	Ongoing
Carrier preference	Jojoba (absorbs cleanly)	Rotation: jojoba, squalane, rosehip
What you're measuring	Reduction in active inflammation	Frequency of new flares
When to step up	If no change at 2 weeks	If a flare emerges

For the underlying pillar on Mānuka oil applications, see the Mānuka FAQ. For the dilution math behind every ratio above, see the full dilution reference. And before you start on any new area, run the 7-day patch test protocol.

---

This page exists to route you to the right guide. The science is the same — East Cape Mānuka oil's β-triketones are antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and barrier-supporting — but the protocol differs sharply by condition. Use the decision tree below.

Question 1 — Active breakouts?

Papules, pustules, blackheads, or oily, congested skin? Read the Mānuka oil for acne protocol. If the acne is hormonal (jaw/chin, adult woman 35+ or teen 9-15), use the dedicated adult hormonal acne or tween/teen guide instead.

Question 2 — Dry, flaking, itchy patches?

If on the scalp, eyebrows, or sides of the nose, this is most often seborrheic dermatitis — see the SD maintenance protocol. If on the body, with thick silvery scale: psoriasis protocol. If rough, dry, and itchy especially in flexures (inside elbows, behind knees, hands): the eczema protocol below on this page.

Question 3 — Redness, flushing, visible capillaries?

Read the rosacea protocol. Start at 0.5% dilution — rosacea skin is reactive and the standard 1-2% range is often too aggressive for the first 2-3 weeks.

Question 4 — Wounds, scrapes, or recovering skin?

The traditional Rongoā Māori use case — and one of Mānuka oil's strongest evidence bases. Read the wound care protocol.

Question 5 — None of the above, or new to Mānuka oil?

Start with the complete beginner's guide. It covers patch testing, dilution ratios, carrier oils, and what to expect in the first 4 weeks of use.

Why East Cape Mānuka Oil Is Different (Across All Conditions)

The active compounds are β-triketones — leptospermone, flavesone, and isoleptospermone. East Cape Mānuka Oil contains 20–30% β-triketones; standard Mānuka Oil from other New Zealand regions contains less than 1%. That gap is not a marketing distinction — it's the difference between an oil with a meaningful active concentration and one without. All of our oil is sourced from the East Cape and independently certified for β-triketone content and geographic origin.

Eczema Protocol (Lives on This Page)

If your condition is eczema specifically — Mānuka Oil addresses the disrupted skin barrier, chronic inflammation, and Staphylococcus aureus colonisation that drive it. Use at 1–2% dilution in jojoba for the face, 2–3% for the body. Consistent twice-daily application over 2–4 weeks delivers meaningful results for most people. (Eczema is the one condition without its own dedicated pillar guide on this site — the protocol lives here.)

The Eczema Step-by-Step Protocol

1. Patch test on the inner forearm at 48 hours. Use the dilution you plan to apply to eczema-affected skin. If inflammation increases at the patch site, drop the dilution by half and re-test.
2. Mix a fresh 10ml batch in jojoba. 3 drops Mānuka per 10ml jojoba for the face (1%), or 6–9 drops per 10ml for body application (2–3%). Use an amber dropper bottle and label with date and concentration.
3. Apply to clean, slightly damp skin. After a lukewarm (not hot) shower or face wash, pat skin until just damp — do not let it fully dry. Damp skin drives absorption and locks moisture in.
4. Press the blend in with flat palms. Do not rub. Rubbing damaged eczema skin disrupts the already-compromised barrier further.
5. Layer a fragrance-free emollient over the top within 60 seconds. An occlusive layer (plain ceramide cream, petroleum jelly on body, or your usual eczema moisturiser) seals the Mānuka oil blend into the skin.
6. Apply twice daily for the first 2 weeks. Morning and evening. Skip morning application only if you're going outside in direct strong sun for several hours — then re-apply in the evening.
7. Avoid the same fingertip-double-dipping into the bottle. Pour into a clean dish or use a clean dropper each time to avoid microbial contamination of the blend.
8. Reassess at 4 weeks. If inflammation has reduced and itch is calmer, drop to once daily as maintenance. If no improvement, drop dilution to 0.5% and re-introduce more gradually — or talk to your dermatologist about combining with prescription topicals.

General Application Rules

• Always dilute — except for direct nail fungus treatment or isolated spot treatment
• Patch test first — inner arm, 24 hours, before applying to active areas
• Consistency over intensity — twice daily for 3–6 weeks is the minimum evaluation window for chronic conditions
• Carrier oil matters — jojoba for most skin types; rosehip for dry/mature skin; argan for acne-prone

Common Questions About Mānuka Oil for Skin Conditions

Q: Can I use Mānuka oil on broken eczema skin?
Not on open, weeping, or actively bleeding skin. Wait until the surface has closed (typically 1–3 days for minor eczema cracks). For closed but inflamed eczema skin, the 1–2% dilution in jojoba is appropriate and well-tolerated.

Q: How is Mānuka oil different from prescription steroid creams for eczema?
Different mechanism. Steroids suppress the immune response that drives inflammation. Mānuka oil supports the skin barrier and addresses the bacterial colonisation that often complicates eczema flares. They can be used together — apply steroid first, wait 20 minutes, then layer the diluted Mānuka blend on top.

Q: Can I use the same dilution on my face and body?
No. Face skin is thinner and more reactive — stay at 1% maximum. Body skin tolerates 2–3%. The dilution table at the top of this page maps each condition to the appropriate concentration.

Q: How long until I should expect to see improvement?
Eczema and acne typically show first signs at 2–4 weeks. Psoriasis is slower (4–8 weeks). Rosacea is the slowest because the starting dilution must be so low (4–8 weeks at minimum). Consistency over the full window matters more than intensity in any one week.

Q: What if my skin gets worse in the first week?
Stop. Drop the dilution by half and re-patch-test in 7 days. If the patch test is still reactive at 0.5%, Mānuka oil is not the right fit for your skin and you should speak with a dermatologist about alternatives.

Q: Do you ship internationally?
Yes — we currently ship to the United States and the United Kingdom from our US fulfillment facility. Tracked delivery on every order. See our shipping page for current rates and delivery times to your address.

---

Ready to start? Our East Cape Mānuka Oil is β-triketone certified and independently verified — the only grade that delivers the concentrations the research is based on. Tracked delivery to the US and UK.