Aloe vera is one of the true super plants. This plant is probably best respected for its ability to relieve pain from sunburn. This is certainly one use, but aloe can do more. Read on using aloe vera for sunburn, other aloe vera benefits, and plant care for aloe vera.
I missed my childhood (the crazy redheaded kid at the time) and visited my grandmother’s location on the beach. She lived in a warm city, and despite the merciless sun glowing in the summer, the wind was strong enough to keep us cool.
This meant that I had more time in the sun. This was more than my skin could reasonably deal with. Even if you wear sunscreen and reapply it regularly, the sun will win by the end of the day. I leave bright pink shoulders that emit heat to my ears!
That was when my wonderful grandmother cut out a small piece of her aloe vera plant, opened it with a knife and applied it to my shoulder. It was a bit stung at first, but then cooled the tan. Ah Relief came almost instantly, and when I woke up the next morning, my shoulders were pink, but not inflamed and radiated heat like the sun.
That’s because aloe vera is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and is the most powerful when applied directly from plants. Since then, I have always grown at least one aloe vera plant at home, growing over the years and providing healing gels.
This is the taste of what we cover today…
A brief history of aloe vera
Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) is one of the oldest plants on record that are noted for its healing properties. This plant is native to East and South Africa. Cleopatra and Nefertiti were also used to help maintain a youthful look. Because of its highly adaptable nature, it has been cultivated all over the world.
Aloe Vera Plant Care: How to Grow Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a succulent with rimmed gray green leaves, and leaf leaves with sawtooth edges grow very easily. Treat it like indoor succulents and cacti, except that low-light conditions are much more tolerant.
To keep your aloe extremely happy, plant it in well-drained soil. Plants like tight spaces and have shallow roots so plant them in a pot large enough to not fall over from the weight of the plant.
Aloe plants prefer bright, indirect light. Keeping them in sustained direct light will cause the leaves to become too dry and turn yellow.
When it comes to water, aloe likes to drink a good, thorough drink every few weeks, with the soil thoroughly dry between watering.
If you tend to moisten the soil and notice browns and leaves on your feet, aloe has root rot. Water it a little and allow the soil to dry out before watering again.
Check out this post for a complete and detailed guide on how to care for aloe.
Benefits and side effects of aloe vera
In addition to its healing anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera is also used as a powerful laxative. However, it can be too effective as a laxative. Aloe vera can cause intestinal convulsions.
The additional internal benefits of using aloe are:
Reduce inflammation to help indigestion Prevent and reduce kidney stone size
Externally, aloe can be used to relieve sunburn, wounds, frostbite, dermatitis, skin disorders, and burns caused by radiation therapy.
Various uses of aloe vera
Aloe vera is truly a super plant! There are several powerful ways to use it.
Relieves pain from sunburn. Perhaps the most widely known use in aloe vera, this plant helps to cool the skin and speed up healing. It also helps to reverse the advanced reversal of sunburn when applied before development. Read to find out more. Releases itching from bug bites. The anti-inflammatory properties of the plant help to relieve itching, swelling and redness caused by sunburn and insect bites.
It helps to cleanse and speed up wound healing. Aloe is antibacterial and contains preservatives that help to clean cuts and wounds by killing bacteria and fungi. Aloe also helps to promote quick healing of wounds. Purifies and moisturizes the skin. Aloe’s pH levels closely match our skin, allowing us to gently (but thoroughly) cleanse our face while closing pores and tone skin. Its anti-inflammatory quality also helps prevent breakouts. Try it with this DIY liquid hand soap. Helps reduce wrinkles, stretch marks and scars visibility. Aloe was called “immortal plants” by the ancient Egyptians and helped to promote the repair and healing of skin tissue.
How to use aloe vera plants for sunburn
The healing power of plants cannot be denied, especially when something simple, like aloe vera plants, can provide a large relief for something very painful, sun-damaged skin. This sun treatment, a classic use of aloe (and perhaps one of the most common aloe vera benefits), is something I’ve used for as many years as I remember.
It’s easy to use aloe vera gel in a sunburn.
Cut aloe vera from the plant with a sharp knife. Cut off the tip of one of the leaves. It may be as large as the entire leaf, or as small as part of the tip.
Place the cut piece on a paper towel and let it sit for 10 minutes, drain the dark yellow latex. After 10 minutes, you can wipe the sides of the cut to remove the latex from the inside fillet. Latex can stain skin and clothing and can cause skin reactions in sensitive people.
Pro Tip: Cut some of the leaves at an angle (and don’t cut the entire leaves), and the ends of the leaves will be sealed from the latex (that’s the purpose!).
Next, take a pairing knife and split the leaves in half so that the gel inside is the most surface area. Remove the leaves and rub them directly with burns.
NOTE: Be sure to test small patches of skin before applying skin. Some people are allergic to aloe vera directly from the plant, but you don’t want to cause a worse reaction!
Caution: Do not use aloe vera with deep scratches.
You can also put the leaves in the fridge and use them as a cold gel to relieve burns. This is not an essential step as it will make you feel better but will not add any additional healing properties.
Composting the leaves when you finish gelling the skin and repeat every 6 hours if you are still looking for relief from a nasty tan. Note that this is for a typical sunburn. Blisters, headaches, or severe burns with severe pain should be seen by a doctor.
Prevents sunburn
Luckily, I’m older and smarter, so I can’t burn anymore. Not because your skin has changed, but because you know some secret tips to keep your skin healthy.
On hot days from 11am to 3pm to 3pm, I wear long-sleeved clothing with sunscreen on exposed skin and a wide sun hat (even if it’s cloudy).
For more information about Sun Safety, see this article. In this article, let us know all the hacks and tips you need.
FAQs regarding the use of aloe vera
The yellow liquid that comes out of aloe is plant latex. It can cause reactions in people with sensitive skin and can stain your skin and clothes. Before applying the aloe plant to the skin, leave the aloe cuts in a paper towel for 10 minutes to drain the yellow latex.
Aloe vera is amazing to the skin, heals burns and wounds, cleans acne, and moisturizes the skin. It also helps reduce vision of scars and wrinkles. This can be a side effect of too much sun exposure.
There are many aloe plants, but aloe vera refers to the aloe barbadensis plant. If you don’t have aloe plants and are looking for gels to apply to your skin, look for pure aloe vera gel (I usually avoid the dyed green ones).
I hope that this information about aloe vera and my instructions on how to use it for sunburn will help you as much as they have helped me during all the years I was tanned. Now that you know the benefits of aloe vera, try growing your own (it’s also great for green thumbs and black thumbs too!).
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With a city girl who learned to garden, it changed everything. Author, artist, master gardener. A better life through plants.
