Beeswax Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More
What is this page for?
First and foremost: how Beeswax interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Beeswax is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.
But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Beeswax is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy
Check Beeswax against your medication
Add one medicationDrugs that interact with Beeswax
0 medications have a known interaction with Beeswax, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.
We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for Beeswax. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining supplements with your medications.
What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean
Severity — How Serious It Can Be
- Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
- Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
- Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
- No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.
Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented
- Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
- Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
- Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
- Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Where This Data Comes From
- Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
- Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Beeswax combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
- Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Beeswax: Uses, Safety & Side Effects
Beeswax is a natural wax made by honey bees and is most widely and safely used in topical products to soothe and protect the skin. There is some preliminary research on beeswax-derived fatty alcohols for cholesterol and on beeswax mixtures for skin and stomach conditions, but the evidence is limited. It is generally considered safe on the skin for most people, while oral uses are less well studied.
- Part used
- Wax produced by honey bees (Apis mellifera) to build honeycombs
- Common forms
- Topical balms, ointments, lip balms, creams, candles; sometimes in oral mixtures and food-grade coatings
- Skin protection and moisturizing
- Anal fissures and hemorrhoids
- High cholesterol (oral fatty alcohols)
- Minor burns and wounds
- Diaper rash
Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.
Topical use is generally well tolerated, but oral use is less studied and people with bee product allergies should be careful.
There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of medicinal amounts of beeswax during pregnancy and lactation.
Read the full pregnancy detailThere is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of medicinal amounts of beeswax during pregnancy and lactation.
Read the full breastfeeding detailPregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Overview
Beeswax is a natural wax made by honey bees to build the honeycombs in their hives. When fresh it is nearly white, but it turns yellow or brown as it picks up pollen and other natural oils. It is collected from beehives, cleaned, and used in many products around the world.
Most people know beeswax from everyday items like candles, lip balms, hand creams, and food coatings. It is also used as a thickener, emulsifier, and stiffening agent in cosmetics, and as a base for many skin ointments. In traditional and folk medicine, it has been used both on the skin and by mouth for a range of conditions.
How it works
Beeswax is made up mostly of natural waxes, fatty acids, and long-chain alcohols. On the skin, it acts as an occlusive, meaning it forms a barrier that helps hold in water and protect against irritants. This is why it is common in moisturizers and protective ointments.
Some research has focused on very-long-chain fatty alcohols found in beeswax, which laboratory and animal studies suggest may influence how the body handles cholesterol and LDL. Other lab studies suggest beeswax mixtures with honey and olive oil may slow the growth of certain bacteria. These mechanisms are mostly based on early laboratory or animal research and do not prove benefits in people.
Does Beeswax work?
How to read these evidence grades
Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.
For Beeswax, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.
Also studied for 10 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Anal fissures
Preliminary clinical research shows that topical use of a mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax for 12 hours reduces pain, bleeding, and itching associated with anal fissures. It is unclear if these effects are due to beeswax, the other ingredients, or the combination.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Burns
Preliminary clinical research in individuals with second-degree burns shows that applying a dressing containing a mixture of beeswax, olive oil, and alkanna once daily reduces healing time by almost 4 days, decreases pain during dressing changes, and shortens the duration of hospitalization by about 6 days compared to using a dressing containing nitrofurazone and rifamycin, applied once every 2 days. Other preliminary clinical research shows that using a topical product containing beeswax (Medilixir, Medilixir Pty Ltd) for 14 days decreases the severity of itching, lengthens the time until itch recurrence, and decreases the use of anti-itch medications compared to standard aqueous cream (Biotech Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd) in individuals experiencing post-burn itch. Poor study designs limit the reliability of the findings.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Diaper rash
Preliminary clinical research shows that topical use of a mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax four times daily for 7 days reduces symptoms of diaper rash by more than 75%. It is unclear if this effect is due to beeswax, the other ingredients, or the combination.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Hemorrhoids
Preliminary clinical research shows that topical use of a mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax for 12 hours reduces pain, bleeding, and itching associated with hemorrhoids. It is unclear if these effects are due to beeswax, the other ingredients, or the combination.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Nipple fissures
Preliminary clinical research in breast-feeding females shows that using beeswax nipple protectors between feedings reduces the incidence of nipple pain and fissures from about 53% to 20% on postpartum day 10 when compared with keeping the breasts dry.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Oral mucositis
Preliminary clinical research in children with severe chemotherapy-induced mucositis shows that applying of mixture of honey, olive oil-propolis extract, and beeswax topically three times daily until healing or for a maximum of 10 days, along with standard oral care, reduces recovery time by almost 3 days compared to using benzocaine 7.5% gel. However, the mixture does not appear to reduce recovery time compared to benzocaine in patients with moderate chemotherapy-induced mucositis. Additionally, applying honey alone 0.5 grams/kg (maximum 15 grams), appears to be more efficacious for both moderate and severe mucositis than either the honey mixture or benzocaine gel.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Radiation dermatitis
A small clinical study in patients undergoing radiotherapy shows that applying a topical ointment containing beeswax, olive oil, calendula oil extract, and St. John's wort oil extract to the treated area nightly during radiotherapy and for two weeks post-radiotherapy, while also applying a topical cream containing aloe vera gel, calendula oil extract, and St. John's wort oil extract to the treated area three to four times daily, reduces the intensity of dermatitis and improves quality of life scores when compared to baseline. The validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a comparator group. Additionally, it is unclear if these findings are due to beeswax, other ingredients, or the combination.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Tinea corporis
Preliminary clinical research shows that topical use of a mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax three times daily for 4 weeks achieves clinical response in 75% of patients with tinea corporis. It is unclear if this effect is due to beeswax, the other ingredients, or the combination.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Tinea cruris
Preliminary clinical research shows that topical use of a mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax three times daily for 4 weeks achieves clinical response in 78% of patients with tinea cruris. It is unclear if this effect is due to beeswax, the other ingredients, or the combination.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Tinea versicolor
Preliminary clinical research shows that topical use of a mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax three times daily for 4 weeks achieves clinical response in 86% of patients with tinea versicolor. It is unclear if this effect is due to beeswax, the other ingredients, or the combination.
Source & disclaimer. Effectiveness ratings and evidence summaries are provided by Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) and shown as licensed. Where Natural Medicines hasn’t rated a use, HelloPharmacist’s pharmacists may add their own reviewed rating and evidence (each such entry is labeled). This is educational information, not medical advice — talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing a supplement.
Safety & precautions
Beeswax is widely used in foods and cosmetics and is generally considered safe for most people when used on the skin. It is poorly absorbed and tends to stay on the surface, where it acts as a barrier.
People who are allergic to bee products (such as honey, propolis, or pollen) should be cautious, since allergic skin reactions are possible. If you notice redness, itching, or a rash, stop using it.
Oral medicinal use is less well studied, so talk to a pharmacist or doctor before taking beeswax-based products by mouth. For pregnancy and breastfeeding, topical use is likely fine, but there is not enough reliable information on oral medicinal use, so it is safest to avoid it or check with your healthcare provider first.
Side effects
Beeswax is generally well tolerated. The most likely problem is a skin reaction such as redness, itching, or a rash, especially in people who are sensitive to bee products. Doing a small patch test before using a new beeswax product can help.
Serious reactions are rare, but as with any bee-derived product, an allergic reaction is possible. If you develop swelling, trouble breathing, or widespread hives, stop use and seek medical care right away.
Beeswax: Reported Adverse Effects
Documented safety reports on Beeswax from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database, shown word-for-word from the licensed record.
Orally, beeswax is well tolerated. Allergic reactions to beeswax are possible in some patients.
Topically, beeswax may cause allergic contact dermatitis. In most cases, this reaction is likely caused by the propolis component of beeswax.
- Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
- Abdulrhman M., El Barbary N. S., Ahmed Amin D., and Saeid Ebrahim R. Honey and a mixture of honey, beeswax, and olive oil-propolis extract in treatment of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis: a randomized controlled pilot study. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2012
- Nyman GSA, Tang M, Inerot A, Osmancevic A, Malmberg P, Hagvall L. Contact allergy to beeswax and propolis among patients with cheilitis or facial dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 2019;81(2):110-6.
Dermatitis Immunologic
Orally, beeswax may cause allergic reactions. Topically, beeswax may cause allergic contact dermatitis. In most cases, this reaction is likely caused by the propolis component of beeswax.
- Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
- Nyman GSA, Tang M, Inerot A, Osmancevic A, Malmberg P, Hagvall L. Contact allergy to beeswax and propolis among patients with cheilitis or facial dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 2019;81(2):110-6.
Dermatitis Dermatologic
Topically, beeswax may cause allergic contact dermatitis. In most cases, this reaction is likely caused by the propolis component of beeswax. While this reaction is thought to be rare in the general population, one cross-sectional study found that 18% of patients with a history of cheilitis or facial dermatitis experienced positive reactions to beeswax. While most of these patients also had a positive reaction to a propolis patch test, some did not, suggesting that a substance in beeswax itself may be involved in this sensitization.
- Abdulrhman M., El Barbary N. S., Ahmed Amin D., and Saeid Ebrahim R. Honey and a mixture of honey, beeswax, and olive oil-propolis extract in treatment of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis: a randomized controlled pilot study. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2012
- Nyman GSA, Tang M, Inerot A, Osmancevic A, Malmberg P, Hagvall L. Contact allergy to beeswax and propolis among patients with cheilitis or facial dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 2019;81(2):110-6.
Adverse-effects data: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center
Dosing
There is no standardized medicinal dose for beeswax. The amount in a product depends on whether it is a balm, ointment, cosmetic, or oral mixture, and on the other ingredients used.
For topical products, follow the directions on the label and apply a thin layer to the affected area. For any oral product, follow the manufacturer's instructions and check with a pharmacist or doctor first, since proper dosing for medical use has not been clearly established.
Beeswax & Pregnancy
Beeswax & Breastfeeding
© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center
Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center
References & further reading
The 9 references that drive our Beeswax monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.
- Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
- Al-Waili, N. S. An alternative treatment for pityriasis versicolor, tinea cruris, tinea corporis and tinea faciei with topical application of honey, olive oil and beeswax mixture: an open pilot study. Complement Ther Med 2004;12(1):45-47. PubMed
- Al-Waili, N. S. Clinical and mycological benefits of topical application of honey, olive oil and beeswax in diaper dermatitis. Clin Microbiol.Infect. 2005;11(2):160-163. PubMed
- Al-Waili, N. S., Saloom, K. S., Al-Waili, T. N., and Al-Waili, A. N. The safety and efficacy of a mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax for the management of hemorrhoids and anal fissure: a pilot study. ScientificWorldJournal 2006;6:1998-2005. PubMed
- Abdulrhman M., El Barbary N. S., Ahmed Amin D., and Saeid Ebrahim R. Honey and a mixture of honey, beeswax, and olive oil-propolis extract in treatment of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis: a randomized controlled pilot study. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2012 PubMed
- Gümüs K, Özlü ZK. The effect of a beeswax, olive oil and Alkanna tinctorial (L.) Tausch mixture on burn injuries: An experimental study with a control group. Complement Ther Med. 2017;34:66-73.
- Lewis PA, Wright K, Webster A, et al. A randomized controlled pilot study comparing aqueous cream with a beeswax and herbal oil cream in the provision of relief from postburn pruritus. J Burn Care Res 2012;33(4):e195-200.
- Nyman GSA, Tang M, Inerot A, Osmancevic A, Malmberg P, Hagvall L. Contact allergy to beeswax and propolis among patients with cheilitis or facial dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 2019;81(2):110-6. PubMed
- Koukourakis G, Pissakas G, Ganos CG, Sivolapenko G, Kardamakis D. Effectiveness and tolerability of natural herbal formulations in the prevention of radiation-induced skin toxicity in patients undergoing radiotherapy. Int J Low Extrem Wounds 2020:15347346 PubMed
This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.
Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Brands that make products with Beeswax
592 brands in our database make a supplement containing Beeswax.
Supplement products with Beeswax
6,498 products in our database contain Beeswax. Open any to see its full ingredient list and every drug interaction we check.
Beeswax: Common Questions
What is Beeswax used for, and does it work?
Does Beeswax interact with prescription medications?
How are Beeswax interactions rated?
Is it safe to take Beeswax with my medications?
Where does this Beeswax interaction information come from?
What is Beeswax mainly used for?
Is Beeswax safe to put on my skin?
Can Beeswax lower cholesterol?
Is Beeswax safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Products that contain Beeswax
A rotating sample of real supplements in our database that list Beeswax — open any to see its full ingredients and every drug interaction we check.
- Taliment by Taleos Pharma
- Respiratonic by Herbs, Etc.
- Prenatal Essentials by Doctor's Best
- Ultra Mega Biotin 10,000 mcg by Vitamin World
- Royal Jelly by NOW
- Anti-V Formula with Clinically Proven Echinamide by Natural Factors
- Migravent by Vita Sciences
- Magnesium by Smarter Nutrition
- Aminotropic Fuel by Vitamin World
- Bio CoQ-10 100 mg Enhanced Absorption by Solaray
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