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 just used aloe jelly by lilies of the desert on my eye brows because my stylist didn’t cool the wax well and left me with burns and puffiness. It just took 2 days and it really looks great and feels great. So, I then realized I could use it as an eyebrow gel and also I rubbed it all over my face to aid my moisturizer. I really like how it feels.