How Can Aloe Vera Treat Acne?
Anyone with acne knows how inconvenient (at best) a breakout can be. Although our individual acne symptoms—like pimples—will eventually go away, sometimes, a scar can stick around for weeks or even months. Professional treatments like micro needling, dermal fillers, and lasers can be very useful in reversing the indentations left by scars, but your wallet will be happy to know that an inexpensive, all-natural ingredient can also help improve the appearance of scarring: aloe vera!
What Is Aloe Vera?
Aloe vera is a naturally derived ingredient found in the aloe plant and is sold in powder, liquid, and gel form. It's made up of a whopping 99.5% water, as well as polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, lipids, and enzymes. The high water content helps restore water into the skin; however, overuse can actually dry out the skin as the natural exfoliating properties of aloe's enzymes can potentially over-strip if used too often.
Benefits of Aloe Vera for Acne Scars
Repairs the skin: Aloe vera is a wonderful natural option for reducing the residual injury to the skin caused by acne or other wounds. Like scars found elsewhere on the body, acne scars occur when a breakage occurs in the skin. Even if you don’t pop or pick your pimples, you may still notice scarring if the clogged pore beneath the breakout expands so much that the follicle wall breaks, says the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery.
Fortunately, aloe vera can help heal those scars over time thanks to its naturally anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. There are studies that have shown aloe vera to increase growth factors for fibroblasts—the cells that make collagen. It’s possible that this is the pathway that allows aloe to improve wounds and scars, via the production of enhanced and increased collagen fibers. It’s a great alternative medical treatment following burns or skin injury as well! (Bet you didn’t know that!)
Heals wounds and inflammation: Studies have also brought to light that the use of aloe vera to improve wound healing, and to decrease skin inflammation. Aloe vera has been shown to decrease a chemical called thromboxane, which is known to inhibit or slow down wound healing. Aloe also contains magnesium lactate, which is a chemical that decreases histamine and can decrease itching and irritation!
How to Apply Aloe for Acne Scars
Aloe vera is available in a number of forms, from drinks to gel to supplements, so which formula is the best for healing acne scars? Oral intake of aloe vera likely does not have the same wound-healing properties as the topical forms, so it’s recommended topical use immediately following tissue injury, twice a day for 1-2 weeks. To apply aloe to the skin, start by washing your face and drying it with a clean towel. Then, apply a thin layer of aloe vera to the affected areas on your skin and allow it a couple of minutes to dry before following up with your usual skin care routine.
While aloe can work well on its own, some people may see better results if it's used in tandem with specific products. For acne, it can be used in conjunction with traditional acne medications nightly, which will aid in curbing irritation and dryness, and potentially improve residual scars and marks.
One product sticks out above the rest: retinol. A 2013 study showed that aloe vera gel was used in conjunction with tretinoin (a retinoid) and was found to be more successful in treating the acne, and more successful at improving the appearance of skin with less irritation, than tretinoin alone. But as many of us have busy lives and can’t always stick to something like this, where we have to apply raw aloe multiple times a day every day, shouldn’t there be any easier and less time-consuming way to use the very beneficial aloe vera?
Yes! By using a skin care brand filled with aloe vera!
Aloe Vera Products for Acne
If you’re looking to try aloe vera for yourself but aren’t quite sure where to start, check out Wild Natural’s online store for a full line of face, body, and hair care products – all featuring aloe vera. In fact, aloe vera is the first ingredient for all of our products and replaces water for our line, so you get the full potent punch that aloe can deliver to your skin problems!
Shop today and say bye-bye to acne and those pesky acne scars!
