Curious about the benefits of aloe vera for acne?
The aloe vera plant is an ancient medicinal plant that holds astringent properties you can use to treat inflammation and infection. One of the most common uses of the plant is to extract the liquid gel and use it for scars and reducing redness -- two side effects of acne and blemishes. Let’s explore why and how aloe benefits skin and those treating acne.
Aloe vera is a green prickly plant long cultivated for its medicinal properties. It's also known as Lily of the Desert, Burn Plant, and Elephant’s Gall. The aloe plant grows in warm countries with dry climates, and can also grow indoors. The gel liquid inside the leaf of the plant is used to make cosmetics and medicinal treatments for sunburn, digestion problems, and healing wounds.
The green fleshy part of the aloe vera plant contains valuable nutrients used in health drinks as well as beauty and skincare products. Compounds found in the aloe vera plant include mannans, polysaccharides, lectins, and anthraquinones, all of which are valuable for health benefits.
The health benefits you gain from using aloe vera include:
Aloe vera comes in many forms and is widely used in various creams, lotions, soaps, and serums. When used in skincare, it helps soothe, protect and nourish the skin. It also moisturizes without feeling greasy or clogging pores. Keeping your skin in healthy condition will promote regeneration of new cells and leave your skin soft and blemish free.
Aloe vera is excellent for getting rid of the build-up of oils and dirt from the skin. Cleansing your face daily will promote blood flow and kill off harmful bacteria that cause acne. Using soaps and micellar water-type cleansers with aloe vera can help calm skin and protect it from harsh surfactants and other irritants. Be sure to wash your face at night before bed and in the morning!
Gentle toners play an important role in removing oil and residues, while balancing the skin’s oil production. Toners with a high percentage of aloe alongside calming ingredients like chamomile offer multiple benefits in an acne-preventing skincare routine. To keep your skin free from oil and dirt, take a cotton pad or cloth with a small amount of aloe vera-based toner and clean your face periodically, this will enable your skin to breathe.
Lightweight serums with antioxidants and moisturizing agents like hyaluronic acid keep skin hydrated without being heavy. Look for ones with a high percentage of aloe for soothing hydration. Many moisturizers targeted toward oily skin and blemishes will also include aloe vera, since it is calming and balancing.
Lightweight gel face masks with aloe are ideal for calming skin. You can also mask with pure aloe vera gel, slathering it face and body during a bath or after a shower. Easily rinse off any gel that didn't sink in and enjoy the enhanced hydration to the areas you masked.
One of the most effective times to use aloe vera is when skin is irritated, which often happens after exfoliation, potent acne treatments, or other skincare services. Pure aloe or serums rich in aloe vera can be vital in promoting healing and calming redness.
The healing abilities of the anthraquinones in the aloe vera juice boosts cell development and start the regeneration cycle. The aloe plant juice has twelve anthraquinones.
These anthraquinones contain analgesic, antiviral, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties to promote autoimmune functions, clear the skin, and help heal digestive problems.
You can also brighten and even out skin pigmentation using aloe vera due to those healing properties held within the aloe plant.
The health benefits of aloe increasingly influence your well-being and the health of your skin. This natural plant offers a wealth of nutrients, and many uses from cleansing to soothing, making it perfect for stressed or sensitive skin types. Using aloe vera for acne is a smart move due to this wealth of benefits and its natural, safe properties that improve your appearance both in the short term and long term.