The incredible Aloe Vera needs no introduction. Its benefits are well-known, which is why it has earned a permanent place in many a household. Be it a sunburn or a bad case of acne, aloe vera is a treatment you can always rely on. But, did you know that the humble aloe vera has so much more to offer? Aloe vera is a succulent plant and stores water in its leaves, which are thick and fleshy. The leaves produce two substances – the gel, which is more or less water with several other nutrients mixed in, and the sap, which is also known as aloe latex.
The ‘plant of immortality’, as it was called by Egyptians, also known as ‘Ghritkumari’ in Hindi, ‘Kalabanda’ in Telugu, ‘Katralai’ in Tamil, ‘Kumari’ in Malayalam, ‘Lolisara’ in Kannada, ‘Koraphada’ in Marathi, and ‘Ghrtakumari’ in Bengali can perform miracles not just for your skin, but for your hair and health as well.
Aloe Vera Benefits
Benefits For Skin
- Prevents Signs Of Aging
- Moisturizes Skin
- Reduces Acne And Helps Lighten Blemishes
- Helps With Sunburns And Reduces Tan
- Heals External Wounds And Insect Bites
- Reduces Stretch Marks
Benefits For Hair
Benefits For Health
- Reduces Inflammation
- Eases Heartburn And Acid Reflux
- Reduces Cholesterol And Regulates Blood Sugar
- Maintains Oral Health
- Builds Immunity
- Lowers Risk Of Cancer
- Helps In Treating Hemorrhoids
Benefits For Skin
Aloe vera soap and gel come loaded with several nutrients like glycerin, sodium palmate, sodium carbonate, sodium palm kemelate, sorbitol, etc. These are good for the skin and nourish your skin from within, giving you the skin that glows with health.
1. Prevents Premature Signs Of Aging
Wrinkles and fine lines are bound to appear as you age. But, other factors may expedite what is a natural process. Aloe vera helps in preventing these early signs of aging.
How To Use
A moisturizing pack made with aloe vera, olive oil, and oatmeal can make your skin smoother and softer.
What You Need
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon instant oatmeal
What You Have To Do
- Add all the ingredients in a bowl, and mix till they form a paste.
- Apply the paste on your face and keep it on for 30 minutes.
- Rinse with cold water.
Why Does It Work
As your skin ages, it tends to get drier and loses its elasticity. This makes it more susceptible to wrinkles and fine lines. Aloe moisturizes the skin, and it also helps remove dead cells. In fact, research has proven that aloe vera improves the elasticity of skin and makes it smoother and more supple.
2. Moisturizes Skin
Aloe vera gel has been touted by many as their go-to moisturizer. It has shown miraculous effects on oily and acne-prone skin.
How To Use
Aloe vera gel can be directly extracted from the plant and applied to your skin. Alternatively, there are plenty of ready-to-use aloe gels available in the market. But if you are opting for them, make sure that the aloe vera gel in it constitutes 90 to 100 percent of the product.
What You Have To Do
- Peel off the outer layer of the aloe leaf to get to the gel.
- Scoop out the gel and store it in a container.
- Gently massage the gel on your face. Store the rest in the refrigerator to prolong its shelf life.
Why Does It Work
Aloe vera increases the water content in your skin, and leaves it hydrated without making it greasy.
3. Reduces Acne And Helps Lighten Blemishes
The aloe gel can work wonders on your skin by reducing acne and clearing the blemishes and scars that get left behind.
How To Use
Aloe vera mixed with a few drops of lemon juice, can help in the reduction of acne and acne scars. Adding lemon juice is important because lemon possesses skin lightening properties that can help with blemishes.
What You Have To Do
- Add the lemon juice to the aloe vera gel and combine them together.
- Massage the gel on your face. This is best used as an overnight treatment.
Alternative: You can even use a branded aloe vera soap as well.
Why Does It Work
Aloe vera is an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent because of the presence of gibberellins and auxins. This helps reduce your acne. It also contains polysaccharides that stimulate the growth of new cells. This speeds up the healing process for acne and prevents scarring.
Caution
The use of lemon can increase your sensitivity to the sun. Using a sunblock before stepping out in intense sunlight is advisable.
4. Helps With Sunburns
Aloe vera is widely used as an after-sun treatment because it is soothing and reduces inflammation.
How To Use
Aloe vera gel can be applied directly to the sunburned area.
Why Does It Work
Aloe vera, owing to its anti-inflammatory properties, reduces the redness brought on by exposure to UV rays and soothes the skin (6). It acts on the epithelial skin layer and provides a protective layer to the skin for retaining moisture. Since aloe vera contains a lot of antioxidants and nutritional properties, the skin is able to prevent the moisture from escaping, which in turn
5. Heals External Wounds And Insect Bites
Why Does It Work
Aloe vera is anti-inflammatory, which makes it effective against wounds and insect bites.
How To Use
Aloe vera gel can be used as a topical treatment for small cuts, bruises, and insect bites. It can also be used as an aftershave lotion to soothe irritated skin.
6. Reduces Stretch Marks
Why Does It Work
With the passing of age, our skin expands and contracts just like elastic. When the skin stretches very far, like during the pregnancy or due to rapid weight gain, the elasticity of the skin gets damaged, which results in ugly stretch marks. These marks are nothing but small tears on the skin layers, which can be healed with the regular use of aloe vera soap.
