Aloe vera is that wonder plant in your home garden that is rich in nutrients and has many medicinal benefits. Like Tulsi, it is yet another houseplant used as a medicinal herb to cure numerous health problems, such as boosting immunity and improving digestion. However, apart from treating internal health issues, aloe vera gel also plays a crucial role in enriching the look and shine of your skin and hair.
We know the excellent benefits of aloe vera for various skin and hair issues, such as sunburned skin and dandruff. Aloe vera has been used since ancient civilizations to treat a range of skincare, haircare, and other health conditions.
The clear gel extracted from the aloe houseplant is home to over 75 active compounds, including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, sugars, salicylic acids, lignin, and saponins. For example, aloe vera gel comprises vitamins A, C, and E, which act as antioxidants.
5 Benefits of Aloe Vera for Skin and Face
There are numerous aloe vera gel benefits for skin and face, especially when you are experiencing chronic skin conditions. Always check with your dermatologist before applying any product in such cases. However, you can discuss with your skin doctor the following key benefits of aloe vera gel on face and body.
1. Soothes Skin Injuries and Sunburns
Aloe vera gel for face has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that promote healing and alleviate pain, as it contains compounds like anthraquinones and aloin. However, aloe vera can treat mild-to-moderate inflammations and first to second-degree burns effectively. Anything beyond that needs immediate medical treatment.
For minor burns, apply aloe vera gel to the affected site 2–3 times per day. For moderate burns, you may also need to secure the area with gauze. This medicinal succulent can also treat sunburns, as it has both moisturizing and soothing properties to help relieve pain and discomfort caused by sunburns. Besides, the best aloe vera gel can even speed up the sunburn and inflammation healing process.
However, research shows that aloe vera gel is not quite effective in preventing sunburns. Therefore, dermatologists and skincare experts recommend putting on some sun protection whenever you step out of your home, especially in the scorching heat.
2. Moisturizes the Skin
Aloe vera has moisturizing properties in both its leaves and its sugars. Certified dermatologist, Marisa Garshick, M.D., explains that the aloe vera plant’s leaves are rich in water, especially in the innermost layer. This water content helps to keep your skin hydrated by locking in moisture.
Furthermore, the sugars of the aloe vera plant, also known as mucopolysaccharides, can help retain the skin’s moisture levels. When aloe vera gel is applied topically, mucopolysaccharides are reported to increase the water content of the stratum corneum, which is the outermost layer of the skin. Hence, mucopolysaccharides are believed to be the ideal ingredients for soothing dry skin.
3. Helps Clear Acne
If you have acne-prone skin, natural aloe vera gel for face can be the best solution to clear up your acne. Aloe has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that may help treat acne. However, many dermatologists recommend not replacing traditional acne medications with aloe vera; you can use it alongside traditional acne treatment methods.
Furthermore, aloe vera gel is also a natural source of salicylic acids, which is often used as an active acne treatment when used topically. These can reduce redness and swelling of the skin by unplugging the clogged skin pores, thus causing the acne pimples to shrink. In combination with tretinoin cream, aloe can effectively treat both inflammatory acne and anti-inflammatory pimples or rashes.
Salicylic acids are also believed to promote the natural exfoliation process of the skin, as they help shed the skin’s dead cells. Aloe vera gel rich in salicylic acids can also reduce skin breakouts, such as whiteheads and blackheads. The best aloe vera gel for face available in the market will come with all the natural ingredients of the aloe plant for maximized effectiveness.
4. Reduces Blemishes
Aloe vera can reduce redness, fight skin inflammation, and help reproduce new skin cells. Hence, it acts as a natural remedy to treat acne marks, stretch marks, sun damage, etc., and eradicate skin blemishes. Also, aloe vera gel is known for enhancing moisturized and glowing skin by lightening age spots and treating freckles.
You can create your own aloe vera face pack by adding some lemon juice to create an effective mixture of aloe vera gel. You can use it as a face mask to treat blemishes, skin marks, and redness.
5. Fights Skin-Ageing
The succulent is rich in vitamins C and E and beta-carotene. Vitamin C acts as a highly-effective antioxidant. Hence, it can neutralize the free radicals of our skin and bodies, thus releasing oxidative stress. Therefore, vitamin C helps prevent premature skin aging and is proven to delay the visible signs of biological skin aging.
Vitamin E, on the other hand, can help alleviate the marks of premature aging, such as the formation of fine lines. It also protects your skin against sunburns and keeps it moisturized. Besides, beta-carotene is effective in inhibiting and regulating the aging of tissues and organs. Since aloe vera contains these three anti-aging ingredients in abundance, it acts as a natural anti-aging solution for the skin. It helps diminish age lines and increase collagen production, thus restoring dead skin cells and maintaining skin elasticity.
5 Benefits of Aloe Vera for Hair
Apart from healing chronic skin conditions, the best aloe vera gel in India can also treat several hair and scalp problems. The following are the top reasons you should include aloe vera as an active ingredient in your haircare regime.
1. Helps Prevent Dandruff
Aloe vera is one of the natural home remedies to get rid of dandruff and an itchy scalp. Since aloe vera can help soothe and moisturize dry and scaly skin, it can keep dandruff at bay. Dandruff is nothing but tiny pieces of dry skin that flake off the scalp underneath your hair. Chronic dandruff issues that have been left untreated for a long time may also make the scalp itch.
Therefore, aloe vera’s soothing and hydrating properties can moisturize your scalp and help relieve discomfort from the dryness and itchiness of the scalp. Besides, it also comes with antibacterial and antifungal properties that can heal excessively oily skin, dry skin, and fungal infections.
2. Promotes Hair Growth
Among the many benefits of aloe vera gel for hair, boosting new hair growth is a crucial one. Aloe vera not only enhances skin cell reproduction but also helps activate new hair growth by increasing blood circulation in the scalp. Aloe vera gel also provides essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, to the scalp, thus nourishing the hair roots.
Besides, it comes with proteolytic enzymes, which help repair dead skin cells on the scalp. That’s why aloe vera is considered an effective home remedy for treating scalp problems in both women and men since ancient times.
3. Conditions Your Hair and Scalp
You heard that right! Aloe vera acts as a natural conditioner for your hair and scalp, as it moisturizes and softens the scalp, thus reducing frizziness. By using aloe vera gel for hair regularly, you can maintain your hair’s moisture levels and vitality. It will also maintain the shine and softness of your hair, making it look healthy and beautiful.
4. Strengthens Hair
Aloe vera contains all three essential vitamins - A, C, and E, which help promote shiny hair and healthy cell growth. Besides, aloe vera gel also comprises folic acid and vitamin B12, both of which prevent hair fall and hair damage. And just like skin protection against sun damage, aloe vera helps repair sun damage to your hair strands, too.
5. Cleanses Oily Hair
Aloe vera is known for deep cleaning the hair shaft, thus stripping off extra oil or sebum and harmful residues from other hair products. Unlike artificial products, aloe vera cleanses gently without harming your hair strands while preserving the shine and moisture of your hair and scalp.
How to Use Aloe Vera Gel on Face and Body?
You can grab a skincare product having aloe vera gel as its active ingredient. Consult with your dermatologist regarding the types of products that would suit your specific skin type, especially when you have chronic skin issues. For example, you can use a doctor’s prescribed aloe vera gel face wash or face mask for better results.
However, if you can DIY your own aloe vera mask for your face and body, it will be 100% natural, safe, and effective. To explain aloe vera gel uses better, here are four simple recipes to make your own aloe vera mask or face pack at home.
1. Recipe 1
Ingredients
â- Aloe vera gel or freshly scooped aloe vera pulp
Method
â- Take a tablespoon of fresh aloe vera pulp or gel in a small bowl.
â- Apply it directly to your face and neck area, especially around the sunburned sites.
â- Leave it overnight or at least for a few hours.
2. Recipe 2
Ingredients
â- Aloe vera gel
â- Vitamin E capsule
Method
â- Take 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel in a small bowl.
â- Break the vitamin E capsule and pour its contents into the bowl. Mix the two ingredients thoroughly.
â- Next, apply the mixture to the areas having sin issues, such as breakouts, sunburns, dryness, etc. Also, apply it around the eye area.
â- Leave it overnight. This is the best remedy for individuals searching for “how to use aloe vera gel on face at night”. After applying this face mask, your skin will feel refreshed in the morning.
3. Recipe 3
Ingredients
â- Aloe vera
â- Honey
â- Rosewater
Method
â- In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of aloe vera, 2 tablespoons of rosewater, and 1 tablespoon of raw honey. Mix the three ingredients into a smooth paste.
â- Next, apply the mixture as a face mask. Use it on your face, neck, and other areas of your body, especially the sites having breakouts or mild-to-moderate burns.
â- Leave the mask on your face for around 10–20 minutes.
â- Next, rinse it off thoroughly with warm water. You can use this mask several times a week to treat sunburns and acne issues.
Rosewater contains vitamin E and has anti-inflammatory qualities, which can help alleviate sun exposure and sunburns. Rosewater is also used in many after-sun and sunscreen products and boosts the effectiveness of SPF.
Similarly, honey also helps reduce skin inflammation and soothes pain and discomfort caused by sunburns. Honey also helps to hydrate skin dryness caused by long sun exposure. Hence, aloe vera, together with honey and rosewater, can help alleviate inflamed and dehydrated skin.
4. Recipe 4
Ingredients
â- Aloe vera
â- Raw honey
â- Sea salt
Method
â- In a bowl, take 2 tablespoons of aloe vera and add a bit of sea salt. Mix it well.
â- Then, add 1 tablespoon of raw honey to it and again mix the ingredients well.
â- Use the mixture as a gentle scrub for exfoliating the dead skin cells from your face and body. The mixture acts as a natural home remedy for mild skin exfoliation.
â- After scrubbing your skin for a few minutes, rinse it with lukewarm water. Now, you have fresher-looking and moisturized skin.
How to Use Aloe Vera Gel for Hair?
The best answer to queries like “How to use aloe vera gel for hair growth” is you can use it straight from the plant. Freshly scooped aloe vera from the plant is 100% natural, fresh, and devoid of any harmful chemicals. It is both cost-effective and eco-friendly.
Besides, your aloe plant will continue to grow and you will rarely run out of fresh aloe. Just ensure to use freshly cut aloe leaves. Avoid exposing the cut leaf for long periods as it may start losing its essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. You can also use a ready-made aloe vera gel hair mask or make your own.
Conclusion
To conclude, there are numerous aloe vera gel benefits in treating skin ailments and hair problems. Our simple home remedies on how to use aloe vera gel will also help you alleviate your skin and hair problems quicker.
However, remember that the topical application of aloe vera gel is not the same as using the plant on your face and skin directly. If you don’t see any major improvements, call your dermatologist to address your specific skin concerns. However, for mild skin and hair problems, you can use aloe vera gel for long-lasting results.
