Aloe Vera for Sunburn

Aloe Vera has been known as a burn treatment for thousands of years. Aloe was considered so effective for burns it was once dubbed the “burn plant” by ancient Chinese and Egyptians. During the first century A.D., the Greek physician Dioscorides advocated using the soothing Aloe gel on burns. Today, modern research has shown Aloe vera for sunburn not only soothes, but aids the skin in healing and can even help prevent peeling normally associated with sun damage!

WHAT IS A SUNBURN?

Sunburn occurs when your skin receives too much direct exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. UV rays cause skin damage. The epidermal layer, i.e., the outer layer of skin, reddens, becomes heated, extremely tender, painful and sensitive to touch. Expect a period of discomfort the first few days followed by flaking, itching, and peeling of skin, usually within 7 days. Though most cases of sunburn are usually mild and short-lived, it’s important to avoid it. In the long term, repeated cases of sunburn can increase the risk of developing skin problems in later life, such as advanced wrinkles, liver spots, or types of skin cancer.

SYMPTOMS OF SUNBURN

The symptoms of sunburn depend upon the severity. A very mild sunburn might be barely noticeable while a severe sunburn can be a serious issue requiring medical attention.

MILD

· Pink/Red color to skin

· Itchiness

· Slight sensitivity to touch and temperature

MODERATE

· Prominent red color

· Hot feeling emanating from the surface of skin

· Skin painful to the touch

· Sensitive to temperature

· Mild skin flaking/peeling accompanied by itchiness after a few days

SEVERE

· Deep red skin color

· Boils or blisters forming on skin

· Skin very painful to the touch (almost feeling like a bruise)

· Intense itching

· Swelling

· Fatigue

· Nausea

· Large sections of skin peeling after a few days

HOW ALOE WORKS TO HELP SUNBURN

There are several reasons Aloe vera works to relieve the pain of sunburn:

1. Anti-inflammation – The leaves of this succulent plant have anti-inflammatory aiding properties that can provide direct soothing relief.

2. Hydration – Aloe Vera is 99% water, which works to hydrate your moisture-depleted, burned skin. Moisturization is also how aloe vera helps itching and rashes.

3. Skin Growth & Repair – Aloe Vera also contains glycoprotein and polysaccharides, two key ingredients that offer skin-soothing benefits. Glycoprotein helps to minimize inflammation and pain while polysaccharides aid in skin growth and repair.

USING ALOE VERA ON SUNBURN

WHAT TYPE TO USE?

While Aloe Vera can be ingested several different ways, topical application of a Pure Aloe Vera Gel is the most effective way to treat sunburn. Applying the soothing gel directly to the affected area enables the solution to immediately begin doing its work and helping you feel relief. You can purchase many types of aloe-based, over-the-counter solutions in the form of lotions, creams, or ointments, but the most effective treatment will be a pure Aloe Vera gel as free of added chemicals and filler ingredients as possible.

Helpful Tip: Store your Aloe gel in the refrigerator or freezer for added cooling relief when applying to painful burns!

HOW TO APPLY?

Apply the gel liberally and often to help soothe sunburned skin. Be careful not to use aloe-based creams or lotions that have the additive ingredients petroleum, benzocaine, or lidocaine. They’re more than just fillers; petroleum traps the heat in your skin and benzocaine and lidocaine can irritate your skin! So long as the product you use is all-natural, you can apply as often as necessary without risk.

If you don’t mind doing the extra work, you can harvest aloe straight from your own plant. Slice the leaves horizontally as you would slice a loaf of bread to access the gel from the inner leaf. That gel is sterile and can be applied immediately on the sunburn.

Important: You should always seek a medical opinion from your physician or dermatologist in cases of severe burns. Although using Aloe Vera on babies is generally safe, be aware that a sunburn of any severity is a serious medical issue for an infant.

Aloe Vera for Heat Rash

Can applying Aloe vera for heat rash act as an effective remedy? One thing is certain, where summer goes, heat rash will soon follow. It’s not one of the more pleasant thoughts of the season, but it certainly is a side effect of it. It’s no secret that Aloe Vera works wonders on sunburn and can help alleviate itching, but can it provide relief for prickly, itchy skin?

WHAT IS PRICKLY HEAT AND HEAT RASH?

As many embrace the long, warm days of summer, some are afflicted with skin maladies as a result of too much sun and fun in the balmy, hot weather. Prickly heat, heat rash, and sweat rash are all names for a condition known as miliaria. Small, reddish papules form on the skin that are very itchy and “prickly” feeling. The rash begins to form on the skin of some people when temperatures rise as a result of blocked or obstructed sweat ducts. Subsequently, sweat leaks into the skin and the area around the tiny leakage becomes inflamed and ‘prickly.’

WHAT CAUSES MILIARIA?

The two main causes of sweat duct obstruction are either excessive sweating or an overgrowth of the normal bacteria found on skin. The blockage produces a sticky substance clogging the sweat ducts and trapping the sweat under the skin. The condition will worsen if sweat is trapped and can’t escape.

WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO IT?

The condition occurs most commonly in hot, humid weather when we perspire frequently. Approximately 30% of people may develop miliaria at some point in their life. The rash usually appears in skin folds or on the backside of those bedridden. Those at increased risk include:

· Younger children

· Those who use heavy, occluding skincare

· Overweight people

Heat rash will occur on any part of the body, but more likely in places where we tend to sweat more often. Most susceptible areas are the face, neck, and under the arms but also in skin folds or areas of the body that rub against clothing, such as the back, chest, and stomach.

ALOE VERA FOR HEAT RASH RELIEF

The burning, itchy bumps of heat rash can be painful and extremely irritating. Applying Aloe Vera is highly beneficial because it soothes and cools the affected area and contains anti-inflammatory properties that make an excellent home remedy for easing prickly heat.

One reason Aloe vera works well on heat rash is it does not clog the pores of your skin. Many creams and lotions used to moisturize and relieve heat rash also run the risk of clogging pores, which can actually worsen the condition of the skin. Application of Aloe Vera Gel is effective in this regard because of its lightweight, water based composition will not clog pores. Instead, it actually works to reduce swelling. Rubbing Aloe Vera onto the small swollen bumps on your skin promotes faster healing. It treats the inflammation and painful rash because of the anti-inflammatory properties found in Aloe Vera, and the salicylic acid found in Aloe Vera works to relieve the pain and irritation and soothe your skin.

HOW TO USE ALOE VERA ON HEAT RASH

When it comes to topical application, what you’ll want is the inner gel of the aloe leaf. You can get this by either slicing an actual leaf open or buy ALODERMA Pure Aloe Vera Gel for convenience.

Leave your Aloe gel in the refrigerator for added soothing qualities, then follow these steps:

1. Wash the affected area and pat dry

2. Gently rub a liberal amount of Aloe gel onto the affected area

3. Let it dry on the skin

4. Repeat three to five times daily

You can also purchase aloe vera gel or creams from our store, just make sure it’s pure and has no preservatives or additives that can block your pores and worsen the condition.