Aloe vera comes from the aloe plant and its use dates back to ancient Egypt. Research has shown aloe vera gel to be effective for treatment of minor burns and abrasions, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Aloe is often applied topically, on top of the skin, so that the nutrients and healing properties are in direct contact with the skin. One drawback of aloe vera is that it needs time to dry on the skin before you can wear clothing over the area of application; otherwise, the clothing will rub the aloe off of the skin.
Step 1
Clean the minor cut or burn with warm soap and water. This will wash out most of the harmful bacteria and debris that may be present after a burn or cut.
Step 2
Dry this area gently with a clean towel or wash cloth to remove excess moisture. Excess moisture will cause the aloe vera gel to get too watery and cause it to run off of the skin.
Step 3
Apply a layer of aloe vera gel to the skin area around and on the cut or burn. The surrounding skin tissue will need the healing properties of the aloe vera to speed up the healing process.
Step 4
Utilize a heat lamp or blow dryer on the area containing the aloe vera to speed up the drying time. Set it on a medium to low to avoid burning the skin and to facilitate drying of the aloe instead of scalding the skin. This process may take five to 10 minutes, depending on how hot the heat lamp or blow dryer is. The natural moisture in the skin will continually contact the aloe and allow it to be absorbed into the skin, even after the aloe has dried.
Things You'll Need
- Mild soap
- Towel or wash cloth
- Heat lamp
- Blow dryer
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