Sarah Bellum Says:
One of my personal heroes of the cosmetic industry is Zoe Draelos, MD a dermatologist who is frequently quoted on matters of cosmetic science. In a recent article in Dermatology Times, Dr. Draelos answered a question that’s bugged me for ages: Is there really a scientific reason that aloe vera is good for burns? So, here are three things you should know about aloe vera:
Where does Aloe come from
Aloe vera gel is harvested from plants by cutting open the leaves and collecting what oozes out. This thick, clear “ooze” is known as a mucilage.
What is Aloe made of
This mucilage is 99.5% water. The other 0.5% is a combination of mucopolysaccharides, choline and choline salicylate.
What does Aloe do?
Aloe works two ways: Mucopolysaccharides are film formers that create a thin, protective covering over the burn as the aloe dries; this film helps shield exposed nerve endings. Choline salicylate (which is chemically similar to the active ingredient in muscle rub creams) is an anti-inflammatory that soothes burned skin.
Her explanation really helped me understand why this natural remedy really works. But here’s the REALLY important part: don’t buy products that use reconstituted powdered aloe vera because it doesn’t contain the same 0.5% of goodies that make the aloe work.
Have you ever used aloe vera gel
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I burn really easily despite my best efforts at keeping sun screen at all time on. I swear by aloe vera, it will make a light burn disappear by the next day and a more severe burn heal with less peeling. It also instantly calms the hot feeling and moisturizes. I don’t travel below the 45th parallel without it.
Oddly, I’m allergic to aloe vera. I discovered this after a horrible sunburn, when I applied pure aloe to my skin. It’s a great plant and ingredient, butif you ever feel worse after using it–you can indeed be allergic.
Great plant to give as a gift, however.
I have never used a product containing aloe vera, but I do keep a growing plant near the kitchen.
I guarantee that if you rub the gel on a burn IMMEDIATELY after burning yourself, the pain will stop and there will be little evidence of a burn afterwards.
I have an aloe plant in my home and I cut leaves and use it at least once a week. I smear the ‘juice’ on my face after cleansing and let it dry then just put on my regular moisturizer. I also use it lots on cuts and scrapes. Fantastic
I was once cooking and a tiny bit “popped” out of the pan and landed on my eyelid and stuck there. I was living in Hawaii at the time, so I ran downstairs and picked a leaf off a plant, squeezed some juice off the plant and applied it. Wow! it really worked. My normally hypersensitive skin did not even show a red mark the next day. I wish that I had remember that last week when I was cleaning the chandelier and the light bulb burned my inner wrist. The mark is still there. Thanks for the reminder.
Yes, we keep Aloe plants in our house and use them on burns and cuts. It always feels soothing and seems to help. But, I was never really sure if the aloe actually helped or if it is just wishful thinking! I guess it really is helping.
I used slices of aloe leaf (put over minor burns and cuts) through all my childhood, as my grandmom had it growing in the large pot in her room. It relieved the pain and had a “cooling” sensation, very pleasant.
Now I am using aloe-containing lotion to deal with all daily skin problems like burns, dry or itchy skin areas ( prefer a “shielding lotion”, like this one: http://www.skinmdnatural.com/skin-care ) and it works just great.
Am very excited to have come across this forum, as am absolutely hooked on organic aloe vera products and have had great benefits from using them. Just to add to the thread,there are over 200 species of aloe vera. Out of that there are only about 4 or 5 with medicinal properties. However the species known as the aloe barbadensis miller, also known as Aloe Linnes and Aloe Vulgaris is the most potent.
Did you know that you can take aloe vera internally for its nutritional anti-inflammatory & immune balancing effect. It can also be combined with other ingredients to produce topical creams and lotions to nourish and improve the quality of the skin. For the product to work properly aloe, the inner succulent gel needs to be the principal ingredient. I keep a tube of aloe vera gelly in my bag all the time for minor burns, cuts, stings, etc especially handy if you have kids. I drink the aloe vera gel everyday because it gives me great relief from sciatica. it has also improved my energy levels and my skin looks great. In terms of the best aloe products LOOK for the ISAC SEAL OF APPROVAL, this guaranties you about the content, purity & quality of the aloe product. Check out this place for the best quality aloe vera products.
Aloe vera is a product for every type of skin . it is a natural food flavoring and gives the result in few weeks. There is no side effects on any type skin aloe vera is a very highly effective in treating like pimples.i was used since last six months and give the results . so i am very happy to use this products.
this plant is amazing it can do wonders for your skin,and your immune system.
aloe vera plant is a unique plant that cleopatra use it for herself and alexander the great use it also
Does aloe work wonders on melasma?
Does Aloe Vera help in discoloration of the skin in terms of slight pigmentation?
Aloe never worked on my melasma. I cleansed the melasma area with licorice soap ( Diana Stalder or Dermaline or Godiva ) followed by application of a skin lightener without mineral oil ( Civant ).
Careful to cleanse and lighten only the area of concern. When it is greatly lightened or eliminated then you can cleanse with licorice soap and use skin lightener over the entire area to even out skin tone. Prematurely jumping to this step with emphasize the disparity in skin tone as the lightener will work over the entire area.
I absolutely love Aloe Vera, I’m addicted to it.
I burned myself BADLY being dumb 4 days ago – I pulled the heating unit from the electric griddle when finished ‘griddling’ pancakes and dropped and tried catching it as a reflex action. Well, I caught it alright.
Rather than the automatic ‘run under cold water’, I grabbed the Made from Earth Aloe & Jojoba Lotion and slowly dribbled it into my hand and let it run over the side where the worst part of the burn was. Because it had been in the frig and was cold, I could feel the relief right away but as it dried, it hurt like heck.
I repeated the application throughout the day about 5 times, using maybe 4 drops each time. It is now 4 days since I was that dumb and I never got a blister, never had it bubble up, it never scabbed over, and this morning I can barely see it. It did scar a teeny bit, but nothing like I thought it would based on my past experiences of burning myself. This situation alone will definitely ensure I NEVER run out of this stuff.