Does aloe cure acne scars?

Vain-ity asking about aloe: I’ve read raves on two websites (acne.org & makeupalley.com) about aloe right out of the plant to heal acne scars. This is important for me as I have acne scars on my dark skin and had no luck with hydroquinone or kojic acid.

I’ve scooped out the insides an aloe plant and gave it a whirl in the blender (with a teaspoon of lime juice as a preservative) and kept it refrigerated. I’ve used it for a week at night and I love the texture of my aloe goo and not the smell but do you think it can lighten my acne scars? Does it have any effects other than being a skin soother? Of course I want it to work because the plant costs a mere dollar but I’m a bit skeptical of a simple plant and its raves in the cyberworld.

The Right Brain replies:

First of all, we’re not surprised that hydroquinone or kojic acid isn’t fading your acne scars. Those chemicals work best on dark spots caused by increased melanin pigment which is caused by sun exposure. Acne scars are formed by a different mechanism.

Aloe and acne

Using aloe on acne is actually an interesting notion. We couldn’t find anything in the literature to directly support the idea, but Dr. Zoe Draelos taught us the theory behind how aloe works on burns. She says that aloe’s natural film forming and antibacterial properties can help heal skin. So at least in theory, it makes sense that a coating of aloe could prevent acne scars from forming. It seems unlikely, however, that aloe would have any benefit when applied to aged scars.

The Beauty Brains bottom line

There’s no real evidence to prove aloe really works on acne scars, but there’s at least a theoretical mechanism by which is might work. So if you’re willing to experiment, give it a try and see if it works for you. And if you’re looking for another use for all that fresh squeezed aloe, you should read Sarah Bellum’s response to Kristin’s question about using aloe as personal lubricant (You know how Sarah Bellum LOVES to blog about personal lubricants!)

What do YOU think? Have you ever tried aloe on your acne scars? Have you tried Thermaclear? Leave a comment for the rest of the Beauty Brains community.