Aloe vera is a plant that has been used for thousands of years to treat wounds and skin problems. Grown in many homes, it is considered by some to be part of a first aid kit. Aloe is beneficial, not only in emergency situations, but also as part of a beauty routine. If you have an aloe plant, consider using it often, as a study in the October 2008 issue of the "Journal of Natural Medicine" reports that the more aloe leaves are cut, the more the plant releases its phenol metabolites, which are responsible for its skin care benefits.
Healing Burns
Aloe vera has long been recommended for use in treating sunburn, as it soothes the skin and reduces inflammation. You will also see many over-the-counter "after sun" moisturizers with it listed as a primary ingredient. Aloe vera is not only beneficial in treating minor sunburns. The September 2007 issue of the medical journal, "Burns," reports that upon review of scientific studies involving aloe vera and its application on first and second degree burns, those that were treated with aloe vera healed an average of nine days faster than those that were not treated with aloe. Aloe vera is an effective treatment for household skin burns.
Relieving Dermatitis
According to the National Institutes of Health, dermatitis is another name for a rash, or skin inflammation. There are many causes of skin inflammation, including allergic reactions, extreme weather conditions, stress, sun exposure and bacterial and viral infections. A common treatment for dermatitis is 1 percent hydrocortisone cream, but a study in the 2008 issue of "Skin Pharmacology and Physiology," conducted at University Medical Center in Freiburg, Germany, found that aloe vera gel exhibited greater anti-inflammatory benefits to inflamed skin than hydrocortisone cream.
Collagen Production
Collagen and hyaluronic acid are both underlying components that are necessary for healthy skin, and when they are deficient, skin begins to sag and wrinkle. In a study conducted at Fujian Medical University in China, researchers tested aloe vera's effects on human skin cells in a test tube. The results, published in the "Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine," show that aloe vera increases both the synthesis of collagen and the production of hyaluronic acid in skin. This cell rejuvenating benefit is what makes aloe vera recommended for acne scarring, as well as wound healing.
References
- PubMed: Abstract: Journal of Natural Medicine: The Content of Secondary Phenol Metabolites in PrunedLeaves of Aloe Arborescens
- PubMed: Abstract: Burns: The Efficacy of Aloe Vera Used for Burn Wound Healing
- National Institutes of Health: Rashes (Dermatitis)
- PubMed: Abstract: Skin Pharmacology and Physiology: Investigation of the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Aloe Vera Gel
- PubMed: Abstract: Influence of Aloe Polysaccharide on Proliferation and Hyaluronic Acid
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