Our family is plagued with skin issues. As a mom, I grew up with sensitive skin, rashes, hives, and acne. Our son was born with eczema and continues to fight the battle of itchy, sensitive, infected skin. Our tween daughter (who is hormonally challenged) has been battling mysterious facial bumps and rashes for the past 2 years and our dermatologist has been unable to prescribe anything that helps.
I'm not one of those moms who solely believes in natural, non-prescription products. I'm a level-headed, experienced mom who has seen benefits from both the herbal/natural and western medicinal sides. When making a purchase decision for my children's skin, it typically comes down to three issues: side effects, safety, and efficacy.
After reading rave reviews about this product and researching its safety and natural ingredients, I decided to pull the trigger. The three of us are using Manuka oil for different reasons. Fortunately (I scream with excitement), we've already seen immediate, positive results on my daughter's skin, so I felt compelled to share this review in hopes that it helps others with similar issues.
Our daughter (who is now 12) began getting small whitish/red bumps pop on her skin around her nose, mouth and chin area about 2 years ago. It was extremely embarrassing for her as it made her skin red, itchy, and noticeable to peers. In desperation, I tried everything: prescription dermatologist-recommended ointment (Protopic), tea tree oil, coconut oil, anti-fungal prescription medication (Nystatin), hypoallergenic lotions, creams, and antibiotic ointment. We saw a slight improvement with tea tree oil for a few days, but nothing else really helped.
I won't lie — my daughter HATES the smell of Manuka oil. She loves the smell of tea tree oil. Being the loving, controlling mother that I am, I did it for her. For the first week, we applied the oil in a thin layer around her nose, mouth, and chin, twice daily. Within a day of use, it began drying out the rash. It took the red out almost immediately. Within one week's time, we knew the product was effective. It took about 2 full weeks for the rash to disappear completely.
I still encourage (with force) my daughter to use this oil every night after she washes her face with a mild cleanser. She still doesn't like the smell, but recognizes and appreciates its effectiveness. This Manuka oil has made a huge difference in her facial appearance and self esteem. Very few products we've tried have worked this quickly with minimal side effects.
I highly recommend the use of this product for tweens and teenagers facing hormonal changes. We love our dermatologist, but he really missed the boat on diagnosis and treatment of this issue. I've attached before and after photos of my daughter's skin problem. Take it from an exhausted mom who spends 100% of her time and salary on skin care products. This one is worth a place in your medicine cabinet.