Aloe vera is a common household plant that you find in most homes in most climates. The temperatures of most homes and apartments are ideal for the growth of aloe vera. You can easily grow it in a pot in a small space. The raw gel of the aloe vera plant is used in skincare. Not just that, it can be great for minor burns and skin irritations. We will look into whether aloe vera is good for your skin and highlight some of the uses of aloe vera in skincare.
Aloe vera is popularly found in the dry and tropical climates of Africa, Asia, Europe and the southern and western parts of the United States. It is cultivated for its many uses in skincare and is even bottled up into juice.
With aloe vera being as popular for skincare, what exactly can you use aloe vera for? We will discuss the various applications of aloe vera as a plant in skincare and consider how to use aloe vera for better skin.
Is Aloe Vera Juice Good For Skin?
Yes, aloe vera juice has various healing properties that can work to better your skin and heal it. It can work against the signs of ageing. The vitamins and antioxidants in aloe vera juice can help improve the health of your skin and works to fight away many skin conditions.
Aloe vera juice and the hydration of your body with aloe vera juice could work to help reduce the frequency and appearance of acne. It also works to resolve various skin conditions such as dermatitis and psoriasis.
The juice of the aloe vera plant is rich in antioxidants, which brings with it a host of other health benefits. It is loaded with vitamins and can really work to help protect your skin.
You can use aloe vera juice straight on your skin too. However, it isn’t as effective as the concentrated aloe vera gel.
Aloe vera juice is known as an anti-ageing treatment. It prevents the onset of fine lines and wrinkles and can work to repair your skin from existing UV damage.
Aloe vera is often found in juice form in the market. It is easy to make at home and doesn’t require much effort. In order to make the aloe vera juice, you simply have to extract the gel from the leaf of the plant using a knife or spoon and mix it with water. You may add some sugar or a sweetener to sweeten the drink, however, it isn’t necessary.
Is Aloe Vera Gel Good For Skin?
You can find concentrated aloe vera gel in the market. This is advertised to provide a glowing face and clear skin. The concentrations of the aloe vera gel that you find is usually high, which means it comes close to the raw gel that you extract from the plant.
That being the case, you want to ensure that the gel that you are using is pure aloe vera gel and doesn’t have any additives and chemicals added to the mix. Aloe vera gel contains enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins A and C which can be a great treatment for burns, acne and dry skin. It works on a host of skin issues and is suitable for all skin types.
Aloe vera gel works to soothe the skin and nourish it. The advertisments for the gel aren’t inaccurate. It does in fact lead to a glowing face and clear skin. These aloe vera gels are great for those people who want to reap the benefits of aloe vera but don’t have the time or space to grow and take care of a plant. If you don’t have access to the raw form of aloe vera, then this is the best alternative at hand.
Is Raw Aloe Vera Good For Skin?
Raw aloe vera is better for the skin since it is the purest form of plant extract. The concentration of aloe vera in the raw form is usually higher than 97% aloe vera or 99% aloe vera.
The healing properties of aloe vera make it one of the best things to use on your face. It is safe to use on the face for many skin conditions. Raw aloe vera comes straight from the plant to your skin, which means, it brings with it all the plant compounds which are beneficial for your skin health.
In comparison to aloe vera gels and products, the raw form of aloe vera is pure and can work wonders on your skin. All you need is an aloe vera plant, which can easily be potted. When it’s time to treat your skin, simply cut a leaf from the plant, slice it open, extract the gel from within the leaf and apply it to your skin.
The raw gel is rather sticky, however is absorbed easily, which makes it is great for oily skin types. Using raw aloe gel isn’t hard to do. If you have the time and space to grow a plant, it is advised that you use raw aloe vera.
Is Aloe Vera Good for Skin Rashes?
Though aloe vera won’t treat all types of rashes, the anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera can work to soothe certain skin rashes and heal them. Aloe vera also has antimicrobial capabilities which means it works to help prevent infections.
If you have a skin rash, aloe vera could work really well to remove the rash and soothe your skin. In fact, using aloe vera on your rashes may even show overnight results.
Aloe vera works better on certain types of rashes not all. It for certain doesn’t replace the opinon of a doctor. Hence, if you are suffering from a persistent rash, you should consult your doctor for advice and treatment.
Aloe vera works particularly well on rashes caused by dry skin and irritation. It works to help with psoriasis plaques and eczema. It could even work to heal the lesions from the herpes virus.
Is Aloe Vera Good for Itchy Skin?
Itchy skin is generally caused by irritation and dry skin. If the itchiness is originating from a rash much like an allergy, aloe vera may work very well in treating the itchiness and reducing inflammation. It will also work to improve the appearance of your itchy patch of skin.
When it comes to itchy skin, the more you itch, the more you scratch and damage your skin. When you experience itchiness and irritation, it is best to try to soothe it with some aloe vera prior to letting the itch get out of hand.
Aloe vera works really well on dry skin and works to moisturise it thereby heal it. When itchiness is caused by skin dryness, aloe vera works very well to soothe the itching and treat the problem at the root by moisturising the skin.
Is Aloe Vera Good for Peeling Skin?
Aloe vera is a moisturiser that works to heal the skin. This mean it can slow down or reduce the peeling process of the skin and works well as an effective moisturiser.
The peeling of the skin is often caused by irritated skin and aloe vera works really well to soothe the irritation. It is particularly great for peeling caused by sunburn.
If you are experiencing an element of pain with the peeling, such as with sunburns, aloe vera could work to soothe the pain and heal your skin. Applying aloe vera will work to heal your skin much faster than allowing it to heal on its own. The active ingredients in aloe vera have various healing properties, which makes it great for peeling skin.
Can You Use Aloe Vera on Wounds?
Though aloe vera works will on minor burns and irritation, it should not be used on an open wound.
Aloe vera can reduce the fragility of skin which means your skin would be less susceptible to small cuts and bruises. Though aloe vera works to increase the amount of collagen in wounds and promote wound healing, it should not be used on open wounds.
Aloe vera works to accelerate the healing of burn wounds. However, when it comes to open wounds, you don’t have much to gain from applying aloe vera.
Benefits of Aloe Vera on Skin
The leaves of aloe vera produce gel that is a great source of vitamins A, C, E and B12. There are various benefits of using aloe vera on your skin.
The anti-inflammatory properties can work to reduce pain, swelling and soreness of closed wounds and injuries. It works to support the production and release of collagen which works to speed up the healing of skin and prevent scarring. When it comes to burns, aloe vera drastically improves the healing times of both first-degree and second-degree burns.
Further to this, it a great treatment against fungal and bacterial infections. The antioxidant effects of aloe vera can work to repair sun damage and can work to slow down the aging process of skin by protecting the skin from damaging effects of radiation.
Aloe vera contains about 98% water, which is great if you are looking to hydrate, soothe and moisturise your skin. It works to make your skin more flexible which means you are less likely to experience small cuts and bruises.
Lastly, if you are experiencing rashes or the effects of sunburn, aloe vera could work really well to soothe both conditions.
How to Use Aloe Vera for Skin Care
You can buy aloe vera products in the market. However, when purchasing aloe vera products, you have to ensure that these products do not contain added ingredients such as alcohol or other chemicals. These chemicals can be harmful to your skin, which is why we state that raw aloe vera, sourced fresh from the plant is better.
Sourcing aloe vera from the plant is easy enough to do. You can easily grow a plant inside the house and the temperature of most houses and apartments suit the growth of aloe vera. You can find plants in local garden stores or even purchase them online.
When you are looking to extract the aloe vera from the plant, simply use a sharp knife to cut a leaf off the plant close to the root. Wash the leaf and pat it dry and place the leaf cut side down on a bowl. This will work to drain the yellow aloe vera latex which isn’t suited for everyone. Allow the leaf to rest on the bowl for about 15 minutes and throw away the gel that drains from the leaf.
You then want to cut the narrow pointed end off and once again drain the latex. Once that is done, the leaf is now ready for extraction. Simply press the leaf to soften the inside. Cut the pointy stubs off the edges, lay the leaf flat and slice it down the centre from one end to the other. Now you can gently scoop the gel out using a spoon or a knife blade. You want to use a sealable container to store the gel and you want to refrigerate the gel before you use it.
You can store the gel in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can even freeze them to form ice cubes and use the ice cubes on your skin.
It is always best to do an allergy patch before you use the gel. Apply it to a small patch of skin and observe it for 24 hours. Once you have tested the gel and have the gel ready, simply take the gel and apply it to the part of your body that you would like to treat. You can apply it to your face about twice a day.
You can use it as a wash face and gently cleanse your skin with aloe vera prior to rinsing it off. Otherwise, you can use the gel as a skin toner by mixing 2 parts water with 1 part aloe vera gel.
The gel works well on the various skin conditions that we discussed herewith, from minor burns to sunburns, as acne spot treatment and antifungal treatment.
Can Aloe Vera Be Used as Sunscreen?
Though aloe vera is an active ingredient in homemade sunscreens, aloe vera alone will not provide a sufficient degree of protection from the sun. Herbal formulations which contains a mixture of aloe vera and SPF 14-16 are effective to use as sunscreen, however simply applying aloe vera gel on your skin won’t protect you from sunburns.
Aloe vera is a great treatment for sunburn but doesn’t actively work to protect the skin against sunburn. Hence, we do not recommend that you replace your sunscreen with aloe vera. This will not work.
If you are looking for a sunscreen alternative, we recommend you try coconut oil, almond oil or even lavender oil, which has been shown to offer a natural SPF.
Can You Be Allergic to Aloe Vera?
Though aloe vera is considered safe for many people, there is a risk of an allergic reaction to aloe vera. This is why we recommend that you test out aloe vera on a small patch of skin and observe it for 24 hours, prior to using it.
You may experience contact dermatitis which usually develops when your skin comes in contact with an irritating or allergic substance. Though aloe vera works to soothe irritated skin, if you are allergic to aloe vera, applying aloe vera could quite easily irritate it.
It is always best to test aloe vera on your skin if you are a first time user. Simply apply a small amount of aloe vera onto a small patch of skin and observe the patch of skin for about 24 hours. If you don’t notice any adverse reactions, you are not allergic to aloe vera.
To Conclude
Aloe vera is a miracle plant when it comes to your skin and brings with a host of healing properties which works to soothe and treat your skin. When it comes to treating your skin, aloe vera has all the properties to make it a useful component of your skincare routine.
Whether it is dry skin, irritated skin, peeling skin or even rashes, aloe vera could work to soothe it. We worked to provide you with an informative article which would provide you with some good insight into what you can use aloe vera for.
We hope reading this word to word has helped you better understand aloe vera and the uses of aloe vera for skincare.
Happy Nourishing!
