People have used the succulent plant aloe for thousands of years for medicinal benefits, typically applying the clear inner gel to heal skin problems. Aloe is one of the most-used herbal remedies in the United States, according to Adventist Healthcare. You can grow aloe as a houseplant and obtain gel from the thick waxy leaves, or buy aloe gel and juice in stores that sell natural supplements. Aloe is also a common ingredient in skin care products.
Sunburn Treatment
Aloe vera gel is a popular household remedy for treating sunburn. It contains chemical compounds called glycoproteins that may reduce pain and inflammation, and polysaccharides that enhance skin cell growth and repair. Research published in "Skin Pharmacology and Physiology" in 2008, Vol. 21, No. 2, explored the anti-inflammatory effects of concentrated aloe vera gel in 40 participants. These participants were subjected to ultraviolet light irradiation on test areas to create erythema, or skin redness. For the next two days, the skin was treated with a 97.5 percent concentration aloe vera gel, other treatments or a placebo gel. Aloe vera significantly decreased the erythema after 48 hours and worked better than a 1-percent hydrocortisone gel. The 1-percent hydrocortisone cream was more effective than the aloe vera gel, however.
Therapy for Other Burns
A systematic review of studies published in the September 2007 issue of the journal "Burns" evaluated the effects of aloe vera in four studies and 371 patients. Average healing time of people applying aloe vera to burn wounds was almost nine days less than those in a control group. These results indicate that aloe vera could be effective for healing first or second degree burns. The review authors caution that the studies used different products, making specific conclusions difficult.
Psoriasis Treatment
Aloe vera shows potential for treating psoriasis, although Adventist Healthcare notes that research results are mixed. One study with favorable results was published in the August 1996 issue of "Tropical Medicine and International Health." Sixty patients with mild to moderate chronic plaque-type psoriasis applied a 5-percent aloe vera cream extract or a placebo three times daily for five consecutive days per week. The aloe vera cream significantly alleviated symptoms in 25 of 30 participants, while two out of 30 of those using a placebo experienced significant results.
References
- Adventist Healthcare: Aloe
- Skin Pharmacology and Physiology: Investigation of the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Aloe Vera Gel
- Burns: The Efficacy of Aloe Vera Used for Burn Wound Healing
- Tropical Medicine and International Health: Management of Psoriasis with Aloe Vera Extract in a Hydrophilic Cream
- Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology: Aloe Vera Gel in the Treatment of Slight to Moderate Psoriasis Vulgaris
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