Aloe vera plants and its inner gel have a long history of use as home treatments, with burns being one of the most common.
But as interest grows and scientific research continues, it becomes clear that aloe vera has enormous nutritional advantages.
The use of aloe vera dates back to the time of Cleopatra, an Egyptian Queen who is renowned with having perfect skin and
who passed away in 70 BC. As a result, aloe vera has been employed for both culinary and medical purposes by ancient Africans, Greeks, and Asians.
The aloe vera plant is now widely distributed and commercially grown due to the widespread recognition of its nutritional advantages.
This essay will only discuss the advantages to nutrition.
There are 250 different types of aloe vera plants, but only four are cultivated for their nutritional advantages.
The most frequently grown aloe vera for health reasons is Babandensis aloe, which is indigenous to North Africa.
In a climate that is favorable, an aloe vera plant can live for more than a century.
A normal Aloe Vera leaf is made up of the latex and the gel, which contains 96 percent water.
A three-part structure consists of an inner thin skin (latex) covering the gel and an outer leaf protection.
Nutritional Compounds In Aloe Vera
Vitamins — are required by the body in minute amounts (hence called micro-nutrients), for vital body functions and processes.
Vitamins found in Aloe Vera are A, B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B 12, C, E, Folate, and Niacin.
Antioxidants — Are like body soldiers that go about looking for dangerous free radicals and gulp them up.
Antioxidants are therefore essentials ensuring that the body is rid of free radicals.
Free radicals are dangerous in that they can bind with other molecules, causing damage because they can grow and become benign.
Antioxidants present in Aloe Vera are Chromones, Aloetic acid, Anthrone-C-Glycosides, Barbaloin,
Antraquionine, Aloin, Isobabarloin, Babarloin, Emodin, and IsoemodinFat ty-Acids
— Are the building blocks of dietary fats, which are used to build muscles in the body.
Any unused fats are stored in the body as fatty acids. Examples of fatty acids in Aloe Vera are Alpha-linoleic-Acid (LNA),
Linoleic-Acid (LA), Beta-sitosterol cholesterol, campesterol and Lupeol Enzymes — Are biological molecules that
are responsible for all the on-going process in the body, especially in, digestion and for metabolism.
Typical enzymes found in Aloe Vera plants are Lipase, Peroxidase, Cellulase, Bradykinase,
amylase, catalase, ltipase, Acid-Phosphatase, Alkaline-Phosphatase, Lactic-Dehydrogenase, and Liipase.
Aloe Vera Benefits for Face and Skin
The best friend of our skin is aloevera as it suits for all skin types and all types of seasons and skin problems
as there are many benifits of aloevera as of now we will see top benifits of aloe vera.
1.Acts as a good moisturizer.
Aloe vera helps to moisturize your skin, it helps in unclogging the pores and
softening the skin, and keeping your skin hydrated.
2 Fights skin-ageing
Aloe vera contains antimicrobial properties and is anti-inflammatory, which helps to increase collagen production and slow down the aging appearance and fight and improve wrinkles and skin elasticity.
3.Lightens ,brightens and tightens the skin and keeps it hydrated and healthy.
Apply aloe vera twice a day, it boosts skin cell production and reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation by destroying the melanin in the skin.
It is a natural treatment for acne, blemishes, marks, and skin irritation.
4 Remove tan
Aloe vera work as a protective layer for the skin because it has a cooling property, which helps with sunburn or burnt skin.
Aloe vera is rich in antioxidants and minerals and helps lighten skin color.
And, it’s very simple to apply-
Take the aloe vera stem, cut out the side thorns and divide it into two halves, and then you can see the gel part,
take out that gel part and apply it on the skin, and after 5 minutes wash it with lukewarm water.
You can store it in the container by adding your favorite ingredients, like vitamin E, which keeps the aloe vera gel
to stay fresh for longer and clam your skin, or you can add lemon in it, which helps the acne,
or you can add yogurt with honey in aloe vera gel, it makes your skin glower and brighter.
How do we protect our skin from the sun?
1. Wear safe, non-toxic sunscreen, even on cloudy days.
The worst sunburn I ever saw was on a person who thought she could stay out for hours without
sunscreen because it was overcast.
The sun’s burning rays are remarkably powerful and proficient, so wear sunscreen every day.
When choosing a sunscreen, look for an SPF of at least 30, if you have fair skin.
But don’t be seduced by super-high SPF numbers because their incremental sun protection
diminishes as SPF increases, especially at higher levels.
Many sunscreens with SPF from 50 to 100, for example, effectively block just 1-2%
more sunburn rays than an SPF 30 products.
Regardless of which SPF you choose, you should reapply often (ideally every 90 minutes), and always after swimming.
2. Avoid tanning beds.
We now know that tanning beds are linked to cancer and are no safer than the actual sun,
so think carefully about the risks you expose yourself to when you go to a tanning salon.
If you really want some summer skin color, avoid tanning beds and choose a safer option, such as self-tanning towels and lotions.
Be sure to check the ingredients label to ensure the base formulation is safe and non-toxic (avoid methylparaben and synthetic perfume).
3. Exfoliate at least once a week, ideally twice.
Dead cells sit on the surface of your skin making it look dull, rough and dry.
By exfoliating, you are removing these dead cells, allowing your more radiant, healthier summer skin to shine through.
Exfoliating also allows skin cells to regenerate more quickly, which keeps aging at bay.
Whenever possible, choose a gentle, more natural exfoliator.
Some “fruit acid” exfoliators such as alpha hydroxy acid and beta hydroxy acid (AHA and BHA) can actually
be very harsh and cause significant irritation.
Choose products with natural exfoliating grains instead.
4. Moisturize your skin
aloe vera moisturizes skin. As you may know, aloe vera is often used to treat skin lesions because of its emollient and
soothing actions, which are mainly due to its mucilage content.
Mucilages are also hygroscopic which means they absorb and retain water (that’s why the plant is able to live in draught conditions).
This property makes them good moisturizing agents.
In the summer it is tempting to ease up on moisturizing because your skin may not feel as dry.
But good moisturizers work over time, promoting healthy skin with consistent use.
We don’t stop eating well or exercising in the summer, so we shouldn’t stop taking care of our skin.
If you do happen to get a sunburn, act fast to mitigate the negative effects by moisturizing liberally and
often with a lotion containing aloe vera This will keep the burned skin well hydrated, and it will help to soothe the discomfort.
5. Have lots of summer fun, but don’t skimp on sleep.
Lack of sleep can lead to increased levels of stress hormone, which may slow the production of collagen in the skin.
When our skin stops producing collagen, it begins to lose elasticity and starts looking tired and worn.
6. Drink lots of water.
Drinking water benefits how well your body functions and ultimately affects how your skin looks and feels.
For example, proper hydration helps flush toxins from your body.
When toxins build up, they cause organs such as your kidneys to work less efficiently, which has a direct impact on your skin.
Sip water through out the day and consider following the 8 x 8 rule: drink eight 8 ounce glasses of water every day.
Can aloe vera cure itching?
Yes. It very well can. First, find the cause of itching and take in a glass of Aloe vera gel mixed
with water twice a day (Morning and evening). You can also apply the aloe vera gel directly on the skin where you find the itchiness.
It soothes the skin and it is also a good moisturizer.
Is aloe vera a natural sunscreen?
Aloe vera is contained many natural nutrients and vitamins, but not sunscreen.
The healthy aloe vera can be used in many ways such as repairing skin damage and soothing sunburn,
but it is not a sunscreen, because it doesn’t protect you from UV rays.
Uses of Aloe Vera for Skin Problems like acne
What are the acne scars?
Acne is a common skin condition that affects many. It occurs when oil, dead skin cells, and other pollutants clog
the skin pores that contain hair follicles.
Common in teenagers and youngsters, acne leads to other skin issues like blackheads, pimples, large pores, and acne scars.
The term “scar” does not refer to the red marks seen on the skin when acne heals, as these marks usually fade away with time.
Acne scars are depressed (atrophic) or raised (hypertrophic) lesions at the site of old acne lesions.
In severe acne, large pus-filled bumps are formed on the skin.
These pus-filled spaces/cysts destroy skin tissue and when these cysts eventually heal, they leave behind a scar.
While there are several home remedies claiming to address acne scars,
Aloe Vera is considered to be one of the most effective elixirs for acne treatment.
How can aloe vera reduce scar formation?
Aloe vera for acne scars has been in use for thousands of years. Also, experimental studies have shown
that this organic plant has strong anti-inflammatory properties and characteristics that help combat acne breakouts.
For instance, aloe vera contains enzymes, amino acids, various vitamins, minerals, and other compounds which
are anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory.
The unique blend and balance of these effective agents is known to boost the skin’s immunity,
increase collagen, reduce inflammation, heal wounds, promote elastic production, delay wrinkle formation, and treat other acne issues.
The active antibacterial agents found in aloe vera treat acne issues by removing bacteria from the skin, while reducing the risk of spots/scars.
In short aloe vera is:
- Antibacterial
- An antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
A person suffering from acne breakouts can use aloe vera gel to treat acne scars instead of chemical-rich cleansers.
Treating acne at the right time can help prevent scar formation.
Uses Aloe Vera for Acne Scars
Aloe vera ice cubes
Acne,Scars, burns, dead skin, loose skin Aloe vera works for all.
Aloe vera ice cubes hydates the skin, makes it look fresh, moisturize our skin and it anti microbial property works best on acne.
All you need to do peel the extract, grate it and transfer it to ice tray.
Aloe vera ice cubes are ready.
- Wash your face using a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water.
- Dry your face with a clean, soft towel.
- Apply aloe vera ice cubes to the entire face or just to the affected area.
- Leave for a couple of minutes and let it dry naturally.
- Follow it up with your usual skincare routine.
- Use aloe vera, twice a day for 1-2 weeks for noticeable results.
- To treat your acne scars, apply aloe vera ice cubes to the affected area and leave it overnight.
- Wash it off in the morning to soothe irritation and redness.
While aloe vera is an effective acne scar treatment on its own, you can experience better outcomes when
using it in tandem with other products like honey, lemon, cinnamon, sugar, tea tree, retinol, etc.
(depending on one’s skin type, one can mix suitable products with aloe vera to form a facemask/paste.)
What other natural acne remedies (that work) are best for sensitive skin?
- Curd
Curd has its own benifits. Curd contains Lactic acid and probiotics in it which can be reliefing to the acne when applied.
Apply Curd on the acne with cotton balls.
- Potato juice mask
Intrestingly Potato juice effective in getting rid of acne scars, reducess redness and lighten the skin.
Potato Juice also consist of anti microbial properties.
Applying Potato Juice mask twice a week can be effective aganist acne and scars
- Cold milk splash
Cold milk splash is another natural remedie to reduce acne as it contains lactic acid in it.
Splash cold milk every evening on acne.
- Turmeric and Aloe gel
Turmeric’s antimicrobial property works best on acne and aloe vera gel removes the scars, dead skin and moisturize the skin.
Using Turmeric and Aloe gel paste acts best on acne as a remedie.
Prepare a paste of Turmeric and acne and applu it on skin twice a week
What is the best aloe vera gel for brightening skin?
Even if it was true that aloe brightens the skin, commercially available gels contains
such a low percentage of it that they still wouldn’t work.
They’re 99.8% made of water.
I know, it’s a shame, but this is how some cosmetic companies work.
Let me explain.
Aloe vera gels usually only contain 0.1% or less of actual aloe extract.
The rest is made of water, preservatives, and gelling agents.
Besides this, natural extracts are only as good as the plant they were extracted from.
This means growing and harvesting conditions, the age of the plant, method of extraction, and parts used.
When it comes to scientific studies to prove aloe vera allegedly multiple effects, it’s important to note results were not consistent.
With that being said, the majority of these studies shows aloe to be beneficial for burns healing and to soothe the skin.
Moisturizing effect is probably due to other components in the gels such as glycerin or water.
Aloe vera is not a skin brightener as someone claims.
If you want to give aloe gel a try, here’s what you should do:
Buy only products that show the IASC (International Aloe Science Council) seal on the packaging.
This is because they’re the only ones that have been certified to contain the highest quality and purity.
You can find a list of these products here.
Alternatively, you could make your own aloe gel. It’s very easy.
You only need water , aloe vera powder (buy a excellent quality one) , a preservative
(for instance potassium sorbate or benzyl alcohol) and a gelling agent.
Carbomer allows you to obtain a clear looking gel as those sold in the stores.
Other gelling agents you could use are gums (xanthan gum, sclerotium gum), or acrylates.
You can avoid adding a preservative IF you make the gel for personal use , store it in the fridge, and use it within a 5/6 days.
So let’s say you want to make 100g (3.5 oz) of gel, you’ll need gelling agent and preservative(s)
at 1%. Aloe % can range from 0.5% to 5% depending on how concentrated is the initial powder, and the rest will be water up to 100%.
On another note, some of the compounds that have been proven to be effective to lighten skin are: arbutin,
kojic acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Licorice extract, Tranexamic acid.
Best Skin Care Tips for Women From Dermatologists
Skincare is extremely important for a glowing, beautiful healthy looking skin.
So let’s get started :
Begin you day with a glass of lukewarm water add a slice of lemon to it.
This will help boost your metabolism.
Lemon is a great source of Vitamin C that’s an antioxidant.
Follow the CTM routine : Cleanser Toner, moisturizer.
Use a foaming facewash, a good quality toner and a moisturizer.
Drink lots of water throughout the day
Avoid going in the sun without a sunscreen.
Scrub your face once a week , if you have very oily skin twice a week.
Eat tomatoes, carrots, strawberries as they are great sources of Vitamin C and Vitamin A that are antioxidants.
Apply Aloe vera gel for fresh and supple skin.
Apply a pack of Multani mitti and rosewater for Antitan.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.