Bananas 

are a delicious and healthy food that contains fiber, essential nutrients such
as potassium, and antioxidants such as vitamin C.

When eating a banana, most people discard the peel. However, you might reconsider
that action based on claims that banana peels have a variety of uses for:

 skin care
 hair health
 teeth whitening
 first aid
 household cleaning
 gardening

Banana peels for skin care

Advocates of banana peels for skin care suggest:

 rubbing a banana peel on your face to brighten skin and reduce wrinkles

 placing a banana peel on closed eyes to reduce puffiness
 using a banana peel as a moisturizer to hydrate skin
 rubbing the peel on acne scars to help them fade
 treating psoriasis by applying banana peel to the area with psoriasis to
moisturize and relieve itch
 removing a wart by taping a piece of ripe banana peel over it and leaving it
there overnight

These suggested uses aren’t supported by clinical research. However, studies show
that banana peels have a number of components that offer possible benefits:
  A 2018 review showed that banana peels are rich in phenolics, which have
strong antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and are associated with many
health benefits.
 According to a 2011 articleTrusted Source, banana peels have a number of
bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids and polyphenols.
 A 2012 study found extracts of banana peel to have anti-inflammatory
properties.

Banana peels for hair health

Proponents of natural products for health and cosmetics suggest using banana peel as
an ingredient in a hair mask. They say it will make your hair softer and shinier.

One way they support that claim is by drawing attention to the antioxidants in banana
peel. They suggest these antioxidants neutralize free radicals to keep hair strong and
healthy.

Banana peels for whitening teeth

According to a 2015 studyTrusted Source, banana peels have demonstrated
antibacterial activity against A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis. These
bacteria contribute to periodontal diseases, such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

Although this and other studies haven’t focused on the direct application of banana
peel to teeth, practitioners of natural healing claim rubbing a banana peel on your
teeth is good for your teeth and gums.

They also suggest that if you do this every day for a week, it may whiten your teeth.
Banana peels for first aid
The antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties in banana peels lead
some proponents of folk medicine to suggest:

 pressing the peel against sunburn, poison ivy rash, or bug bite to provide relief
from itch
 reducing headache pain by placing one frozen banana peel on your forehead
and one frozen banana peel on the back of your neck
 placing a banana peel on a splinter in the skin for 15 minutes to help draw it to
the surface

Banana peels for household

cleaning
Instead of putting them directly into your trash or compost, many people have found
household uses for banana peels, including using them to polish and brighten:

 houseplant leaves
 leather shoes
 silverware

Banana peels for gardening

Many organic gardeners recommend putting banana peels to use in the garden, rather
than wasting them. They suggest:

 adding them to soil as worm food

  mixing them with water to make plant fertilizer
 putting them under rose bushes as a deterrent to aphids
 using them to attract butterflies
 composting them

Eating banana peels

Yes, there are people who eat the peel as well as the fruit of the banana.
Recommendations include:

 boiling banana peels in water to make a tea

 using banana peels as an ingredient in chutney
 cooking banana peels with water and sugar to candy them
 blending banana peels into a fruit smoothie

The takeaway
Research indicates that banana peels may have beneficial properties for use in both
the pharmaceutical and food industries. However, many methods are based on
anecdotal information or folk remedies.

If you’re thinking about using banana peels for health or cosmetic purposes, consider
discussing it with your healthcare provider. They might have additional natural
solutions you can try.

Last medically reviewed on August 29, 2019

 6 sources
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions,
and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our
content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

 Banana facts and figures. (n.d.). 

fao.org/economic/est/est-commodities/bananas/bananafacts/en/#.XUmHLZJKjJx

 Kapadia SP, et al. (2015). Detection of antimicrobial activity of banana peel (Musa paradisiaca L.) on
Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: An in vitro study. DOI:
10.4103/0976-237X.169864

 Phuaklee P, et al. (2012). Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of extracts from musa
sapientum peel. 
thaiscience.info/Article%20for%20ThaiScience/Article/62/10038948.pdf

 Sidhu JS, et al. (2018). Bioactive compounds in banana fruits and their health benefits. DOI:
10.1093/fqsafe/fyy019

 Sundaram S, et al. (2011). Antioxidant activity and protective effect of banana peel against oxidative
hemolysis of human erythrocyte at different stages of ripening. 
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21369778

 Vu HT, et al. (2018). Phenolic compounds within banana peel and their potential uses: A review.
pubag.nal.usda.gov/catalog/5859666