Aloe vera is often associated with soothing and moisturizing sunburned skin, but its powerful benefits make it an essential topical remedy for any household. My grandfather was a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, so our family has always embraced certain health habits, including keeping aloe vera on hand.
Aloe vera is rich in minerals, amino acids, vitamins A, B, C, and E, and phenols and polysaccharides, making it highly cost-effective for internal and external use. This article highlights five practical uses of this miracle plant and offers guidance on choosing aloe vera products.
Five topical benefits of aloe vera
1. Acne treatment
Aloe vera contains polysaccharides that inhibit the redness and swelling caused by bacteria. In my experience, applying it can clear up small pimples in a day and larger ones in about 2-3 days. My friend Mr. Lin, from the plant design company Pot Space, uses the gel to wipe the leaves of sick plants or those with yellowing leaves to kill bacteria.
Additionally, when propagating plants, Mr. Lin places cuttings in aloe vera slices before planting them in soil to protect against bacterial infections. This demonstrates the plant’s effective antibacterial properties for both humans and plants.
2. Skin moisturization
Aloe vera is 99.5 percent water and, combined with polysaccharides and vitamins C and E, provides excellent nourishment and hydration for the skin. It is rich in amino acids, which help maintain skin elasticity and structure, making it an excellent moisturizer for those prone to dry, itchy skin in winter, especially for oily and acne-prone skin.
High humidity can increase transepidermal water loss, causing even oily skin to become dry and flaky. A lightweight moisturizer like aloe vera is a good choice in such cases. However, one must apply a serum or lotion after this to form a lipid barrier and lock in moisture for dry skin.
3. Sunburn relief
Aloe vera effectively soothes pain and reduces inflammation, making it ideal for calming and relieving sunburn pain with its cooling gel in the summer.
4. Wound healing
Aloe vera promotes cell regeneration and wound healing. A study published in PubMed also mentions its positive effects on wound healing. Clean the wound and apply the gel to the affected area for minor burns or abrasions.
5. Relief from insect bites and itching
Aloe vera soothes the skin and alleviates inflammation and itching. Applying it to insect bites can reduce swelling and relieve itching.
An antibacterial remedy
There are over 200 aloe species worldwide, with the Cape aloe from South Africa’s semi-desert regions being particularly unique and precious. Unlike common aloe plants, Cape aloe grows wild and can reach heights of up to two stories. South Africans discovered that Cape aloe’s active ingredients are about 20 times more potent than regular aloe plants, giving it high value.
Aloe bitter juice is not the anthraquinone in aloe that causes diarrhea but a unique brown liquid that flows from sliced Cape aloe. South Africans stack the cut Cape aloe with the cut side inward to collect this juice, which is processed into a household remedy. Aloe bitter juice is excellent for soothing and repairing skin discomfort caused by bacterial infections, making it particularly suitable for treating acne, athlete’s foot, eczema, and skin allergies.
How to choose the right product
Taiwanese beauty expert Niu Er has pointed out that many commercial aloe vera gels contain green coloring and fragrances to make the product appear extracted from aloe vera. While this is generally fine for sunburn relief or moisturizing, for wound healing or treating problematic skin, it’s recommended that you grow your own plants and use the fresh gel as needed or choose products without added colors or fragrances for safety.
Growing aloe vera is not tricky; it thrives naturally. Place it in a sunny spot; if the leaves appear thin, it indicates severe dehydration. In such cases, immerse the entire pot in a bucket filled halfway with water for about half an hour.
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