Aloe Vera & Eczema: How It Helps Relieve the Itch

Aloe Vera juice has a great reputation as a skin healer – I mean, everyone has heard to apply it after getting a bad sunburn, right? But can aloe vera help eczema? The short answer is yes, but evidence points to even greater benefits of aloe vera for eczema when it’s combined with other herbs and natural ingredients! Keep reading to learn more as we break down the great link between soothing eczema with aloe vera.

HOW DOES ALOE VERA WORK?

Eczema or atopic dermatitis is where the skin itches, gets excessively dry, weeps or all of the above. It’s one of the most frustrating skin conditions. Aloe vera is well known for its moisturizing and healing properties, so it would seem a natural fit.

And if you look at how aloe vera works, it very much makes sense: If you ever break off an aloe leaf, you’ll see the cut seals over quickly with a film and a rubber-like protective coating to prevent loss of water. In a short time, the wound heals completely.

The enzymes that enable this process have a similar effect in us. Aloe vera helps foster the growth of healthy new tissue. It can penetrate to the water-retaining second layer of skin, helping to eradicate dead cells, which not only rejuvenates the skin, but also fights infection.

Aloe can also reduce skin inflammation and irritation. A 2018 clinical trial showed that adding aloe vera to a deodorant significantly reduced the irritancy potential of the aluminum chloride in the deodorant. Anti-irritation and anti-inflammation properties are important factors in controlling eczema.

So clearly aloe vera has demonstrated its potency against the symptoms of eczema. And all these benefits are why aloe is a key ingredient in many Wild Naturals products – from our Eczema & Psoriasis Cream and other moisturizers to shampoos, face wash and body wash. For all of the incredible benefits of aloe vera (we believe in it so much that it’s our first ingredient), you should also be aware of other natural ingredients that are known to help reduce the severity of eczema, as well as other skin care problems.

A few of these ingredients to keep your eye on are:

• Manuka Honey – antibacterial, antimicrobial, hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging
• Shea Butter – skin repairing and protects the skin from harsh elements
• Coconut Oil – ultra-hydrating and anti-aging
• Hemp Seed Oil – full of fatty acids, reduces redness and improves skin tone

Here at Wild Naturals, every key ingredient we utilize is meant to help soothe, heal, and nourish the damaging effects that skin conditions like eczema cause so you can live your life easier!

BEWARE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALOE

As a side note, it’s also good to be aware of the type of aloe you’re using, as they vary in type and quality. There are over 300 varieties of aloe, all of which have different properties.  Aloe barbadensis is the most commonly used variety in skin care. But other crucial aspects are how the aloe is extracted and what else it is mixed with.

And incidentally, the aloe vera quality is often not specified in clinical trials. Arguably, aloe vera could be proven even more effective if studies were more particular about the purity of the aloe. Pure aloe juice has to be preserved, often artificially, and strong (irritant) preservatives can negate the benefits of the aloe.

It is also worth pointing out that a 2019 study in Korea found that drinking aloe vera gel effectively improved atopic dermatitis (eczema), by reducing inflammation and restoring skin cell function. But just a word of caution - before taking aloe or other food supplements internally, please follow the instructions carefully and consider seeking the advice of a qualified nutritionist.

For aloe vera in skin care however, we have all your products ready to ship! Visit our online store today and stock up on the best natural skin care for eczema so you can live without the itch, scabs, or red skin patches!