For thousands of years, people have been using Aloe Vera to treat skin conditions of different kinds. Whether to heal a wound, treat a burn, minimize frostbite damage or neutralize acne, this product of nature was part of ancient cultures medicine and in biblical times, it was rendered the plant of immortality by the Egyptians and the elixir of youth by the Chinese.
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Modern medicine has confirmed that Aloe Vera is indeed an extremely powerful plant and very potent due to containing more than 200 bioactive chemicals.
In addition to being processed for the food industry, Aloe Vera is utilized in the manufacturing of skin care products. In both cases, the plant has to have been efficiently processed, otherwise the resulting gel and products are highly unlikely to posses any real properties.
The trouble with Aloe Vera products
For Aloe Vera to work efficiently as a medicinal product, whether internally or externally, it needs to retain the integrity of the active content represented by more than 200 ingredients. It’s only through proper management of the plant and specific processing techniques that this is possible.
If the plant is handled improperly, then the presence of these active components in Aloe Vera products is scarce, minimum to virtually non-existent and so there are no positive results when using them.
This is why it is extremely important that manufacturers pay particular attention to the production process, and that everything from harvesting to extracting, grinding and all the processing techniques be done appropriately to ensure preservation of the essential bioactive ingredients that make Aloe Vera medicinal material.
Aloe Vera for external use
There are no side effects associated with application of Aloe Vera gel to skin, although there have been a few reports of people developing dermatitis after topical application. These particular cases, however, were found to occur after dermabrasion, the exfoliating technique that uses rotating instruments to remove the outer layers of skin on the face.
Generally, though, aloe gel can be applied to soothe skin burns, heal wounds and treat acne with no side effects.
Aloe gel is good for hair care as well and overall health. Here are some of the benefits associated with skin care that demonstrate the potential of this amazing plant.
- Applying Aloe Vera gel to skin affected by sunburn will accelerate the healing process because of antioxidant properties.
- Applying Aloe Vera to oily skin complexion before makeup will moisturize the skin and prevent skin drying.
- Applying after shaving will help with healing small cuts faster.
- Applying to acne-affected skin will reduce inflammation and blisters. The gel and any other product aloe-based can heal skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
- Applying to aging skin will slow down the aging process, reduce the appearance of fine lines and improve firmness.
- Applying Aloe Vera to stretch marks will improve elasticity and eventually heal stretch mark wounds.
- Applying to blemishes will help clear these spots and heal scars caused by acne.
Remember to combine Aloe Vera gel with other ingredients such as lemon juice and olive oil for additional benefits. And choose best quality products for efficiency.