Aloe Vera is considered one of the most effective topical treatments for its many healing and antibacterial properties. Despite its healing power, it is normal to consider whether using it will help with your acne. So, does Aloe Vera help acne? Let’s find out in this post.
Can Aloe Vera Help Acne?
Generally speaking, Aloe Vera does help with acne when used correctly. This is because the substance is anti-inflammatory; hence, it is handy for reducing swelling. When you put it on a swollen pimple, it can reduce the tenderness and pain. It also has healing properties that can help with open acne scars.
Apart from this, Aloe Vera soothes irritated skin. Hence, applying it directly on your skin alone or as a combination, or drinking, can help acne.
Using Aloe Vera alone may not help clear up acne or stop it from developing; however, it is still an effective treatment. Since acne is caused by other factors apart from inflammation, the plant won’t help with factors like the buildup of dead skin cells, hormones, and genetics.
However, its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties come in handy when your skin is injured since it can isolate the area and prevent further spreads.
Acne is caused when the pores are closed, and the skin is inflamed. As a result, it traps bacteria and oil beneath the skin surface. As a result, it often leads to further inflammation, especially when the site is further infected.
Aloe Vera is rich in Vitamins C, A, and E, all antioxidants. When you have acne or your skin is scarred from the effect, your system sends melanin to the wound area, and more pigmentation is deposited into the skin. However, these hyperpigmentation scars affect people differently based on their skin types. Thankfully, since aloe has healing properties, it accelerates the healing process and limits melanin absorption.
More importantly, antibacterial properties are handy for the fight against acne. Propionibacterium acnes – an acne-causing bacteria – is one of the significant causes of acne. Without the bacteria, your inflammation would only mean trapped excess oil and dead skin cells, which only causes a few whiteheads and blackheads. However, it is the bacteria that are responsible for more severe forms of acne.
There is something about the paradox of absorption with Aloe Vera, though. Although it promotes wound healing, fights bacteria, and reduces inflammations, it does not penetrate the skin deeply. Unlike many other treatments, it does not enter the pores; neither is it absorbed into the lower skin layers.
Instead, it sits on the top and has a moderate fighting chance against acne. However, when Aloe Vera is mixed with other topical agents, it can penetrate deeper into the skin.
How To Use Aloe Vera For Acne Treatment?
Since Aloe Vera alone does not penetrate the skin into the deep layer, using it together with other anti-acne medication can provide promising results. Some of the treatment options you can combine with Aloe Vera include:
- Cinnamon and Honey for face mask: Honey and cinnamon produce the same effects as Aloe Vera; hence, combining the three will increase your chances of an effective treatment.
- Lemon juice: lemon juice and an Aloe Vera face mask will clean the pores and kill acne-causing bacteria.
- Coconut oil and sugar scrub: Creating a DIY exfoliator from Aloe Vera, sugar, and coconut oil will help eliminate dead skin cells that can block the pores. Cane sugar brushes the cells away; hence, it clears the path to let aloe penetrate deep beneath the skin. Coconut oil also has antibacterial properties and works as an emollient. The three will leave the skin refreshed and smooth.
- Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil is a proven antibacterial and is handy against acne. Mixing it with aloe will produce good results.
Can Aloe Vera Reduce The Appearance Of Acne Scars?
Aloe Vera will not erase some acne scars; however, it can help with hyperpigmentation. The plant contains aloin, a constituent that helps to face post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Apart from this, Aloe Vera is known to boost the immune response to inflammation and reduce the appearance of scarring. It also increases elastin and collagen fiber production, and since both fibers repair scarred areas, their production increases the chances of helping your scars.
Since Aloe Vera contains aloesin, a compound that can reduce hyperpigmentation, it does this by reducing the overproduction of melanin. However, it takes a while before a scarred skin will lighten. Nonetheless, the process ultimately works to reduce visible acne scars.
How Long Does It Take For Aloe Vera To Work On Acne Scars?
Acne scarring occurs first with inflammation.
The blood vessels in the damaged skin area tighten and restrict blood flow. As a result, it can stimulate melanin production and cause the site to become darkened. After this, new small blood vessels replace the damaged ones and create a protein imbalance that causes excess tissue to form.
If you apply Aloe Vera twice daily, you should see an improvement in this condition within three weeks.
Aloe Vera is available in different preparations. Besides breaking the leaves and using the gel on your skin directly, you can also find several kinds of products containing Aloe Vera online, and in drug stores.
You should look for fragrance-free and non-comedogenic Aloe Vera gel suitable for the body and face. The presence of unhealthy fillers and ingredients in some products can clog your pores and aid in an acne breakout instead of clearing it.
If you want to add Aloe Vera gel to your treatment, you should remember that different gels are different, and each has a unique ingredient listing. Hence, you should check if the one you purchase does contain Aloe vera and fewer filler ingredients. Besides, Aloe Vera is not a miracle cure and shouldn’t be considered as such.
To incorporate it into your skin routine, first, you need to:
- Clean your skin with warm water and a gentle cleanser
- Apply the gel or a mixture to the affected area or entire skin area
- Routinely apply it as desired until there are visible results.
Is Aloe Vera Juice Bad For The Body?
Although well-meaning, Aloe Vera juice can make you feel worse. As a result, you should speak to your doctor before using it. Besides applying it to the skin, you can also drink Aloe Vera juice. However, the effect on the skin through drinking is less compared to applying it directly to the skin.
Here are a few ways the Aloe Vera can affect your body:
- Allergic reaction: The plant leaves contain latex from under the plant’s skin. For many that are allergic to latex, it can irritate, and cause stomach cramps. Some people are also allergic to the gel; hence, they can have a burning sensation, irritation, redness, and skin rashes as part of their allergies.
- Laxative effects: Aloe Vera also causes blood sugar levels to drop and can cause electrolyte imbalance for someone with diabetes. Apart from this, it can lead to dehydration when it is consumed in excess. As a result, lactating mothers and pregnant women are advised to avoid Aloe Vera since it can irritate and stimulate uterine contractions and cause birth complications.
- Lower potassium levels: The juice can cause weakness, fatigue, and irregular heartbeats in sick and elderly people. It also contains bio-active compounds that can interfere with the liver’s detoxification, and drinking the juice can cause stomach discomforts like tummy pain and excessive cramps.
- Drug interactions: whole-leaf extract of aloe latex, if taken orally in high doses, is unsafe and harmful. The juice is known to interact with certain medications and can increase the side effects of the drugs.
Other Benefits Of Using Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera gel contains antioxidants like vitamins A and E and beta-carotene and is handy to reduce skin aging signs. Apart from this, applying it to the skin can act as a protective barrier against harsh environmental factors.
For example, it gives an instant cooling sensation, promotes healing, and skin replenishment. Its anti-inflammatory properties also help to calm rashes and keep the skin fresh and moisturized. If you want, you can use it as a natural hair conditioner since it contains proteolytic enzymes that strengthen and nourishes the hair from the root, to keep them shining and soft.
Aloe Vera juice is also a nutritional boost since it contains small amounts of calcium, copper, selenium, magnesium, and other vitamins and minerals. Minimal juice consumption can help with constipation, detoxing, and liver functions. It also helps you to stay hydrated.
However, as mentioned, there are many health risks associated with drinking aloe Vera juice; hence, you should consume it moderately, and under supervision.
So, Can Aloe Vera Help Acne?
Aloe Vera gel is safe for use against acne when it is appropriately applied to the skin. However, there are a few associated risks with drinking the juice. Thanks to its healing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, it can help acne. However, although it is considered safe for most people, it can cause an allergic reaction sometimes.
You should contact your doctor or discontinue the use if you experience a skin rash, itching, hives, and redness. You should conduct a patch test to know if you are allergic before using aloe Vera. More importantly, speak to your doctor before taking aloe Vera juice to avoid complications.
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