Rub Aloe Vera On Your Skin, Here’s What Happens – 40 Benefits Of Aloe Vera That The Whole World Should Know
In the health world, it's not unusual to see certain natural remedies gain widespread popularity quickly. However, it can often be hard to tell whether the hype behind essential oils or alternative uses for common household fruits and vegetables is based in fact or just a case of overrating a potentially promising property of that remedy.
Nonetheless, some plants do have an impressive number of uses for a person's health and well-being and the desert succulent aloe vera is often cited as one of them. With that in mind, it's worth exploring what this commonly used plant is really capable of.
It's got a good chance of clearing up acne
According to the National Center For Complementary And Integrative Health, research has shown that applying an aloe-based gel to the skin twice a day can improve acne. That said, they recommend using it in concert with medical soap and tretinoin gel.
However, it seems that's not the only way it can help, as dietitian Beth Czerwony told the Cleveland Clinic that its juice is very hydrating, which allows for more moisture in the skin that can prevent acne outbreaks. Although she added that it's safe for most people to drink every day, aloe vera juice can cause diarrhea and cramping for those who drink it in excess.
It may help prevent heart disease
While discussing aloe vera's useful components, Forbes was quick to warn readers that no research has shown aloe vera to have a direct effect on the likelihood of contracting heart disease. However, the fact that it has antioxidants in it has encouraging implications for its utility in this respect.
As Nashville physician Dr. Laura Purdy told the magazine, "Antioxidants are good for your body because they combat free radicals, which can damage your body and lead to health risks." So, while the vitamin C and A content of aloe vera are helpful in this respect, the plant is better used as part of a generally antioxidant-rich diet to help prevent chronic diseases like heart disease than the sole prevention measure.
It can help alleviate acid reflux symptoms
Nausea, heartburn, and vomiting are all potential symptoms of Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), and the level of pain that this condition causes can be easy to underestimate. But as the University of California Santa Cruz Student Health Center explained, treating these symptoms is one of the most common uses of aloe vera juice.
They recommend drinking four ounces a day or two ounces taken twice daily and advised checking for a seal from the International Aloe Science Council before buying. According to a 2015 article in the Journal Of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a syrup made from aloe vera was considered safe and well-tolerated by study participants and was found to reduce the frequency of all studied GERD symptoms.
It helps burns heal faster
According to the National Center For Complementary And Integrative Health, a preponderance of clinical research has shown that gels made from aloe vera can help burns heal quicker than they naturally would. That's why it's often used to treat sunburns.
Indeed, there's another dimension to how effectively aloe vera can help soothe a nasty burn. That's because research has shown some promising results that suggest aloe vera is just as effective at reducing the pain from burns as it is in making them go away faster.
It can likely help heal skin conditions
As the Mount Sinai Health System outlined, some research has shown aloe vera's potential as an effective means to treat psoriasis or the lesions caused by herpes simplex. In multiple studies, it was found to either outperform more commonly used means or boost their effectiveness.
One study the health organization cited found aloe vera gel had better anti-inflammatory effects than 1% hydrocortisone cream, while another found that tretinoin gel was more effective when used alongside aloe vera than when used alone.
It may help skin stay youthful for longer
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the body naturally produces less collagen as it ages. And it's this decreased production that causes wrinkled skin and a sunken look around the eyes and face. There's an entire industry dedicated to slowing this process down, and aloe vera is a common ingredient throughout that industry.
In a 2020 study in the Journal of Dermatology cited by Forbes, participants found that an aloe vera supplement not only improved their skin barrier function but may have improved their collagen production. Although it remains to be seen where aloe vera juice has the same effects as this supplement, the results were promising.
It can help treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome
According to a 2018 study in the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, aloe vera was found to be a relatively safe and effective treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. In particular, it was found to improve both the pain participants felt and the stability of their bowel habits.
However, the study recommended it as a short-term treatment, and information from the Mount Sinai Health System explained why. Although they noted that aloe vera is sometimes used as a laxative, the organization considered this an unsafe use for the plant due to the potential for cramping.
It's shown promise at treating oral lichen planus
Although Oral lichen planus is a bit of a mouthful, it's a fairly common inflammation condition that often causes either red swelling or white, canker-like patches on the inside of the mouth. According to the Mayo Clinic, they can have a range of potential causes, but they're most commonly caused by mouth injuries and infections.
The Mayo Clinic also noted that aloe vera has shown some promise in reducing the pain that often comes from these inflammations. Specifically, they cited research suggesting that applying aloe vera gel twice daily over the course of eight weeks can help quell these inflammations, assuming they last that long.
It may reduce plaque
According to a 2014 study in the Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, a mouthwash made from aloe vera showed just as much effectiveness at reducing dental plaque as the prescription mouthwash chlorhexidine after four days of administration.
A 2009 study by the Academy of General Dentistry also showed that an aloe vera tooth gel either equaled or outperformed two commercially popular toothpaste brands at controlling plaque. The study also noted that the gel was less abrasive than the commercial toothpaste, which made it ideal for sensitive gums or teeth.
It's possible that it can help those with type 2 diabetes
In a 2014 study from the Journal of Food Science and Technology, researchers found a significant reduction in blood glucose levels of diabetic patients and improved the responsiveness of body tissues towards insulin after administering aloe vera. According to Forbes, similar effects were logged in a 2015 study published in the Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders.
However, these results are still preliminary, no matter how promising they sound. That's why the Mount Sinai Health System cautioned that more research is required before aloe vera's effectiveness for diabetes patients can truly be determined.
It may help prevent serious arterial clogging
When fats, cholesterol, and other internal plaque build on the walls of the arteries, it can develop into a condition called atherosclerosis. That term describes an unsustainable buildup of this plaque that often results in either heart attacks or strokes.
As a 2012 study in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences explained, a telltale precursor to atherosclerosis is the development of fatty streak formations, which describes the expansion of foam cells due to this plaque's presence. That study also found that feeding aloe vera gel to a group of rabbits with high cholesterol resulted in a reduction of these fatty streak formations and a lower risk of atherosclerosis. Of course, what works for rabbits doesn't always work for humans, so further research is required.
It's possible that it could prevent gum disease and cavities
According to Mount Sinai Health System, multiple studies have shown evidence that aloe vera gel has the potential to effectively curtail the spread and activity of harmful oral bacteria. Along with the plant's plaque-busting potential, these effects have promising implications for its utility in oral health.
However, it seems that the studies measuring these effects aren't quite plentiful or rigorous enough to inspire a ringing endorsement from the organization. That's because Mount Sinai Health System's final word on the matter was that more research is needed to confirm these preliminary results.
It's possible that aloe vera helps with diabetic foot ulcers
As a 2023 study in the Current Drug Discovery Technologies journal explained, diabetic foot ulcers are both potentially debilitating for diabetes patients and often extremely costly to treat. Since alternative treatments are few and far between for those without the appropriate funds, researchers explored aloe vera gel as a potential low-cost aid.
Ultimately, they found that study participants who were treated with this gel three times over the course of a three-week period experienced a substantial decrease in the severity of their ulcers when examined using the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool. However, the researchers recommended additional research to confirm these results and determine why they occurred.
Aloe vera has components to boost the immune system
Although many studies have examined how useful aloe vera juice can potentially be in treating various conditions, far fewer have examined how effectively the juice prevents them in the first place. And when prevention is a topic of study, the disease in question tends to be specific. However, Forbes noted that aloe vera has the right materials to strengthen the body's general protection from infections that would otherwise infiltrate the immune system.
Specifically, the plant contains Polysaccharides — which energize immune cells and encourage the body to produce anti-inflammatory substances — and the glycoproteins that are present in almost all of the body's immune responses. Still, it remains unclear whether there are enough of these compounds in aloe vera juice to truly boost immunity.
It's possible that aloe vera can reduce cholesterol
According to Forbes, a 2015 study in the Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders found that participants who ingested an aloe gel supplement over a period of eight weeks had lower overall cholesterol levels than they started with. Since that effect wasn't seen in the control group, the results suggested a beneficial effect.
However, research into this potential aspect of aloe vera remains fairly scarce, and it's unclear whether aloe vera juice is as likely to have this effect as the gel supplement. Early results are promising, but more research is needed to confirm or re-contextualize them.
It contains minerals that people often miss out on
Although aloe vera juice is known for containing vitamin C, that's also true of various fruits like oranges, strawberries, and papayas. However, there are some minerals one can get by drinking aloe juice that are much easier to miss out on.
Yet, as dietitian Beth Czerwony told the Cleveland Clinic, it can hurt when people aren't getting enough of them. In her words, "Many people having muscle aches are often low in calcium and magnesium. Drinking aloe vera juice could replenish these if your diet is low in them."
Aloe vera juice is good for the eyes
Although the woman in this photo is indeed lying in a spa with pads soaked in aloe vera lotion on her eyes, that's more to benefit her skin than her actual eyesight. Instead, unlocking any potential benefits aloe vera has for the eyes is achieved by drinking its juice.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, that's because aloe vera is loaded with beta carotene, an antioxidant that's normally associated with carrots and other orange and yellow produce. When the body receives this compound, it converts it to vitamin A, which is essential to maintaining one's overall eye health.
Aloe vera may be useful in reducing some liver damage
Aloe vera products generally aren't supposed to use the whole leaf out of caution of the risk of some cancers, but some studies suggested that the plant generally makes the liver more toxic. However, a 2020 study in Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal detected no negative effects on the liver through regular aloe vera use.
On the contrary, a 2011 study in the Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences showed evidence that aloe vera gel could actually mitigate the harm that alcohol consumption causes to the liver. That's not to suggest that it's a miracle cure for cirrhosis or that the effects are necessarily life-changing at this point, but it's a promising area of study.
Aloe vera can reduce damage from ultraviolet light
As shown here, it's common to put some aloe vera on a sunburn to help soothe its painful effects. However, a 2016 study in the Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences journal found that this only scratches the surface of what aloe vera gel is really doing to that sunburn.
Researchers found that aloe vera can protect against premature skin aging caused by ultraviolet at the cellular level. They also described its protection as working like a cell's membrane, which means it not only soothes the pain from sunburns and reduces their damaging potential but protects the skin from further influence from UV rays while it's on.
It's possible that aloe vera may reduce blood pressure
In a 2010 study in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, a small group of physically fit 18-year-olds were given 1200 milligrams of powdered aloe vera to measure the effect it would have on their blood pressure. As a result, researchers determined that a single dose of aloe vera did not affect blood pressure at all.
However, a 2012 study in the Journal of Food Science and Technology suggested those results were achieved by leaving it to one dosage. That's because researchers subjected participants to six months of supplementation by aloe vera gel and found significant blood pressure reduction among them once the study had concluded. This doesn't indicate its effectiveness beyond the shadow of a doubt, but it's fertile ground for further research.
It rejuvenates hair
According to Grazia India, aloe vera is very useful as a hair treatment, especially in cases where hair is dry and frizzy. This is particularly true for curly hair but its also handy for straight but think hair.
This is not only because Aloe Vera hydrates and moisturizes the head, but also because its a lightweight conditioner that closes hair follicles and preserves the scalp's natural oils. As a result, it can leave hair softer, stronger, and even shinier once it's used.
It's low in both calories and sugar
Dietitian Beth Czerwony told the Cleveland Clinic that aloe vera juice is best consumed in moderation due to the potential for abdominal cramps and diarrhea from over-consumption. However, limiting consumption to an eight-ounce serving per day is the best way to unlock its benefits without the hidden drawbacks that some fruit juices have.
Although many juices have significant quantities of added sugar, aloe vera is known to be low in that substance while only containing eight calories in that serving. As Czerwony put it, "It's pretty neutral. You can drink it on its own, or you can put it in your smoothies."
It may help with oral submucous fibrosis
Also called OSMF, oral submucous fibrosis is a serious oral condition that's most alarming for being precancerous but is painful to deal with regardless of the outcome. According to Forbes, it can leave the mouth stiff with a burning sensation and is often marked by a patient's protruding tongue.
In a 2022 study conducted in India, subjects drank 30 milliliters of aloe vera juice twice a day over the course of six months. By the time the study was concluded, patients who underwent this regimen experienced a reduction in that burning sensation and in the severity of their tongue protrusion.
It may be useful in treating ulcerative colitis
According to the National Center For Complementary And Integrative Health, the anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera were put to an interesting test in a European study. Specifically, researchers aimed to see how a gel derived from the plant would affect ulcerative colitis.
This disease is characterized by inflammations and ulcers in the large intestine that often cause abdominal cramping and the presence of blood during defecation. Although the results weren't universal, the study found that about half of the participants who received the aloe vera gel responded to treatment compared to just 14% of those who were given a placebo.
It can outright cure razor burn
According to the Cleveland Clinic, razor burns are skin irritations that tend to occur when one either shaves too fast, does so without shaving cream or any other lubrication or uses a dull razor or an improper technique. And while it's possible to have a case severe enough to require medical attention, it's apparently possible to knock it out quickly at home.
One might expect to ease the irritation by putting aloe vera gel on the skin, but the Cleveland Clinic stated that it's likely to do more than that. Because it both moisturizes and heals the skin, it's not unusual for aloe vera to make a razor burn disappear entirely within an hour.
Aloe vera can help with dandruff
According to a 2015 study in BioMed Research International, part of what makes aloe vera gel such an effective treatment supplement for various conditions concerns its antibacterial and antifungal properties. After all, dandruff is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis.
When a scalp gets oily, it often creates ideal conditions for these bacteria and microscopic fungi to flourish. With the topical application of aloe vera gel in this area, researchers found that dandruff can not only be treated but also prevented entirely.
It's possible that it could boost metabolism
In two 2012 studies (one of which was published in the Immune Network journal and the other being published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology), researchers administered dried aloe vera powder to mice and rats (respectively) who had become obese due to their diets.
And what they found was that the animals' body mass decreased with this intervention in both studies. This is likely because aloe vera is known to influence the enzyme activated muscle protein kinase, which regulates metabolism. Before anyone gets too excited, however, it's worth remembering that what works in animals doesn't always work in humans.
It can (sometimes) promote hair growth
Although Brooklyn dermatologist Nava Greenfield told Cosmopolitan that it's technically possible for aloe vera to help hair growth, the circumstances in which that's true are rather specific. That's because there are many different ways that alopecia can manifest on someone's scalp, and aloe vera is only relevant to one of them.
As Greenfield explained, it's possible for aloe vera to promote hair growth when a case of alopecia is caused by scalp inflammation. Otherwise, the best it can do is maintain the health of existing hair because it conditions and moisturizes the scalp.
It might help other medications work better
According to a 2015 study in BioMed Research International, previous research has examined aloe vera's effects on the "dermal intake" of other medications. In other words, it has no relevance to medications taken orally but was considered as an agent to help the skin accept topical creams and similar medicines.
The study mentioned that aloe vera was used in concert with caffeine, colchicines, mefenamic acid, oxybutynin, and kinin in various cases and was found to improve the body's acceptance of topical medications, thus increasing their effectiveness. The particularly high water content of aloe vera is a possible source for these adoption improvements.
It's possible that it can help treat arthritis pain
According to a 2010 study in the British Journal Of Community Nursing, aloe vera has been used as a treatment of osteoarthritis for centuries. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it's been effective at doing so for all that time. That's because the evidence for its appropriateness in this application is either anecdotal or the results of small, preliminary studies.
Theoretically, aloe vera is supposed to work as an arthritis treatment both because of its anti-inflammatory properties and because it could potentially prevent gastrointestinal side effects from other anti-inflammatory medications. Since aloe vera can cause its own digestive issues under the wrong circumstances, however, research on its effectiveness as an arthritis treatment remains inconclusive.
It may prevent and treat radiation damage
Although there aren't many situations where most people can expect to get a significant dose of radiation, one of the most common contexts concerns the radiation therapy that many cancer patients undergo throughout the course of their treatment. Unfortunately, this radiation has some side effects, including damage to the skin at varying severities.
According to a 2013 study in Current Oncology, there's also a lack of consensus over the most appropriate treatment for this problem. However, that study ultimately found that aloe vera can have a protective effect against this radiation damage, particularly after higher radiation doses over long periods. Although a 2019 study in Complementary Therapies In Clinical Practice showed that its effectiveness depends on the kind of cancer being treated by radiation, its effectiveness at higher radiation doses had some confirmation.
It can soothe bug bites
Although aloe vera is often recommended as a treatment for cuts, Mount Sinai Heath System went as far as to say that it should never be applied to an open wound. Instead, the recommendation for for minor burns and skin irritations.
And as a 2020 article in the Molecules journal made clear, one of the skin irritations that aloe vera is perfect for is insect bites. Since it's an anti-inflammatory agent and scratching those bites only makes them worse, it's a great way to soothe those itchy feelings while minimizing contact with the bite area.
It may help with eczema
In a 2020 study in the Journal of Pharmacopuncture, researchers examined the effectiveness of treating eczema with a combination of aloe vera and olive oil, which they called Olivederma. To test this, they compared its efficacy with the steroid Betamethasone.
Once their experiment concluded, they found that Olivederma significantly outperformed Betamethasone in terms of decreasing the severity of the participating eczema patients' symptoms and in maintaining their quality of life. This study took place over six weeks but researchers acknowledged that this time period gave few opportunities to test Olivederma's effectiveness against more severe flare-ups.
Aloe vera helps fruits and vegetables last longer
Although most of aloe vera's benefits are relevant to the human body, the surprising reality is that the versatile plant has similar effects on fruits and vegetables. A great deal of research in aloe vera's benefits for the skin describe it as forming a protective barrier and that's precisely why it's beneficial for produce.
According to a 2021 study in the Journal Of Food Biochemistry, an aloe vera gel coating on fruits and vegetables not only slows down their natural ripening processes but protects them against microbes that would otherwise spoil them. Since this gel is natural, safe, and eco-friendly, it's hard to think of anything that could do this job better.
Aloe Vera may be able to treat anal fissures
According to Apollo Spectra Hospitals, aloe vera gel is an effective treatment for anal fissures due to both its healing and pain-relieving properties. And this assertion was confirmed by a 2014 study in the European Review For Medical And Pharmacological Sciences.
While supervised by doctors, participating patients applied the gel to the affected area three times a day for six weeks. After this course was completed, researchers observed significant differences in bleeding, pain, and the progress of the wound's healing that suggested aloe vera is indeed a helpful anal fissure treatment.
It's possible that it could help regulate periods
Although the University of Rochester Medical Center noted that insufficient research has been conducted to fully substantiate this, the organization nonetheless acknowledged that aloe vera is sometimes used to treat menstrual problems. Addressing those who intend to ingest aloe vera gel for this purpose, they advised against using a product with a laxative side effect.
Other than that, the issue has less to do with whether this is a safe treatment and more to do with its unclear effectiveness. Nonetheless, aloe vera gel is supposed to help regulate the frequency of periods and alleviate discomfort associated with periods, such as menstrual cramps.
It's possible that it can help treat common foot issues
Although the University of Rochester Medical Center cautioned that there has yet to be sufficient research confirming the effectiveness in aloe vera in treating certain foot issues, they've nonetheless indicated that there's at least some validity to this claim.
In particular, the organization noted that the desert plant is sometimes helpful in treating corns. It's shown a similar history of intermittent effectiveness in dealing with calluses on the feet as well. In such cases, it's certainly easier to use aloe vera than to try and file these nuisances off.
Aloe vera may be able to help menopausal women
As a 2021 study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology explained, about 40% of post-menopausal women experience a condition called vaginal atrophy, which often leads to painful dryness, itching, and burning sensations right where that term suggests it would. Typically, this condition is treated with estrogen cream.
However, this cream can have unpleasant side effects for some post-menopausal women, which inspired research into alternative treatments. Although further research is required in its efficacy for those with no estrogen tolerance, the similarly effective relief and low risk led researchers to conclude that aloe vera gel could work as a viable alternative to estrogen cream.
It might help with varicose veins
According to Short Hills Dermatology, massaging varicose veins can help relieve them but it's particularly effective to do this with aloe vera gel. That's because aloe vera's anti-inflammatory properties can help alleviate their painful effects and make the skin more comfortable.
Although the University Of Rochester Medical Center was unconvinced that there was enough research to rigorously support the gel's effectiveness, the organization acknowledged that aloe vera can sometimes be useful for this purpose. Like many of aloe vera's topical applications, it can't really hurt.
Aloe vera extract may have some mental health benefits
Although they regarded this claim as somewhat unsubstantiated, the University Of Rochester Medical Center noted that extract from the aloe vera flower has the potential to relieve emotional burnout. They suggested that this could be useful for women who experience hot flashes.
However, a 2020 study in Modern Care Journal examined if this essence would have a similar effect on the depression symptoms of diabetes patients. After treating the patients with eight weeks of aloe vera powder supplements in 500 milligram doses, researchers found significant improvement in these patients' depression symptoms.
