Cosmetic Applications of Bee Venom

November 2021 in “ Toxins ”

Aida A. Abd El‐Wahed, Shaden A. M. Khalifa, Mohamed H. Elashal, Syed Ghulam Musharraf, Aamer Saeed, Alfi Khatib, Haroon Elrasheid Tahir, Xiaobo Zou, Yahya Al Naggar, Arshad Mehmood, Kai Wang, Hesham R. El‐Seedi

bee venom alopecia atopic dermatitis acne vulgaris vitiligo psoriasis BV

TLDR Bee venom is used in cosmetics for skin issues but may cause allergic reactions.

Bee venom (BV) was used in various cosmetic applications to treat skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, alopecia, vitiligo, and psoriasis. It was incorporated into topical preparations, cosmetics, wound dressings, and facemasks. Despite its popularity, the safety of BV remained a concern due to potential immune system reactions, including anaphylaxis, which could take several days to resolve. The review focused on the therapeutic uses of bee venom in skin cosmetics.

View this study on mdpi.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

5 / 5 results

research The Effectiveness of Treatments for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

178 citations , April 2017 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Minoxidil, finasteride, and low-level laser light therapy effectively treat hair loss.

research Bee Venom Promotes Hair Growth by Inhibiting 5α-Reductase Expression

15 citations , January 2016 in “Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin”

Bee venom helps hair grow and may work better than some common treatments.

research Potential Targets in the Discovery of New Hair Growth Promoters for Androgenic Alopecia

59 citations , May 2014 in “Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets”

The document concludes that targeting 5α-reductase, the androgen receptor, and hair growth genes, along with using compounds with anti-androgenic properties, could lead to more effective hair loss treatments.

research Androgenetic Alopecia: An Evidence-Based Treatment Update

151 citations , May 2014 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology”

Effective treatments for male pattern baldness include oral finasteride and topical minoxidil, while topical minoxidil is best for female pattern baldness.

research Prevalence of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss in Maryborough

193 citations , August 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

Hair loss common in Australia; men affected earlier, more often than Asians; women less concerned.

Similar Research

5 / 297 results

research Potential Therapeutic Applications of Bee Venom on Skin Disease and Its Mechanisms: A Literature Review

39 citations , June 2019 in “Toxins”

Bee venom might be a good alternative treatment for various skin conditions because it has many healing properties.

research Biomedical Applications of Bee Venom: A Natural Approach to Cancer, Infections, and Inflammatory Diseases

August 2025 in “Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology”

Bee venom shows promise for treating cancer, infections, inflammation, and hair loss.

research Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Vitiligo

5 citations , December 2011 in “InTech eBooks”

Eat antioxidant-rich foods, reduce fast food, and explore various treatments for vitiligo.

research Going Below and Beyond the Surface: Microneedle Structure, Materials, Drugs, Fabrication, and Applications for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration

61 citations , April 2023 in “Bioactive Materials”

Microneedles are effective for painless drug delivery and promoting wound healing and tissue regeneration.

research Home Remedies in Dermatology

1 citations , October 2023 in “Indian dermatology online journal”

Many people use home remedies for skin conditions, but there's limited scientific evidence to support their effectiveness.

Cosmetic Applications of Bee Venom

Research cited in this study

research The Effectiveness of Treatments for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

research Bee Venom Promotes Hair Growth by Inhibiting 5α-Reductase Expression

research Potential Targets in the Discovery of New Hair Growth Promoters for Androgenic Alopecia

research Androgenetic Alopecia: An Evidence-Based Treatment Update

research Prevalence of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss in Maryborough

Related Community Posts Join

community Anything you use without scientific backing, just trusting your gut?

community Fin 1 mg oral 1x/day + min topical 2x/day, 4 months progress

community CB-03-01 supposed hair loss cure

community Anybody that regrew or thickened up hair with topical dutasteride 0.1% daily or simillar dosage? (without combining finasteride or any other antiandrogens)

community AttentionHomemade Topical Fin Users- requesting Feedback