How will Aloe Vera Perform on the Skin

I confess I’m typically sceptical about products that profess to be anti-ageing, much as I would love to come across something that would knock 20 years off me! It’s all too easy for companies to prey on the insecurities of women – and men – who look in the mirror and focus on lines that are showing, chins that are doubling or wrinkling, and hair that is going grey. We happily – or is it desperately? - are allured into the guarantees that accompany the latest ‘elixir of life’ to appear on the market, but disappointment before long follows and we watch and wait in anxious anticipation for the next wonder lotion, drug or cure to supply our need for eternal youth.



For myself, I would not put myself under the knife, even although there are parts of my face and body that could do with a bit of ironing out. Apart from anything else, I’d be too concerned I might make things worse! I’ve observed the stretched and bloated features of superstars who have taken anti-ageing therapies a step too far. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean I’m reluctant to trying non-invasive, natural applications to help improve my overall wellbeing and to keep my complexion and hair in the best condition possible.



I’ve used countless top-of-the-range skin care applications, as well as reduced high street brands, but hadn’t intentionally used anything containing aloe vera, apart from as an after-sun. Then I happened upon a stall promoting nothing but aloe vera products and was encouraged to consider them. The saleswoman waffled on somewhat about aloe being the same PH as our skin, with the capacity to seep in deep down to the dermis layer, but at the time I was only really interested in whether or not it would make my skin feel nice. It did. Not only that, but after several weeks of using the product I bought, I observed my skin was a good deal clearer and healthier-looking.



I did a bit of investigation and was intrigued to discover that aloe vera has been well documented by a lot of different cultures over thousands of years for its remedial properties: from the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, to the Chinese and Indian peoples. Cleopatra apparently utilised it as part of her beauty regime, and Gandhi drank it during his fasts, claiming it was one of three reasons he remained so healthy – the others being his faith and his frugal life.



Odds are you’ve slapped a cooling aloe vera gel over a searing suntan. Perhaps you’ve even cracked open an aloe plant leaf and drizzled its milky juice directly onto tender or dried out, itchy skin. Topically applied, aloe’s soothing benefits are widely known—and have been celebrated by nurturing grandmothers for decades. But the plant harnesses a horde of other prospective applications for health and wellness. Although individual data compilations on aloe’s effectiveness have yielded mixed and even conflicting results, naturopaths and herbalists have long touted its capability to ease constipation, flush toxins from the body, deal with gastric problems and even help lower blood sugar when taken orally as a supplement or a juice.



Going back to anti-ageing, I learned that aloe vera has been added to numerous cosmetic products over the years because of its known rejuvenating action. The sales person who sold me my cream had mentioned anti-ageing and I’d given her my ‘Oh yeah’ smirk, but now I was reading how companies would give their back teeth to come up with a synthetic substitute for aloe that would create the same benefits - the reason being that they can’t supply enough aloe itself.



Most of the components of Aloe examined by dermatologists have been before now used in cosmetology. Aloe vera with healing properties works as a regenerator, and rejuvenates the skin: Aloe vera penetrates the pores and skin four times quicker than water – and remember that human skin is protected against water by a “hydro-coat”. Biologically active ingredients of Aloe pass through this layer quite freely, so the next layers of skin maintain certain ingredients, and some absorb even deeper. Aloe vera lotion and the healthy human skin share the same pH (5.2-5.6). It has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties – thanks to the correct pH of Aloe vera, no germs or viruses can grow, and friendly to us saprophytes (natural bacterial flora) feel great in the pH that Aloe vera supplies. Healthy pH of Aloe can help treat wounds, and could heal bad skin and other skin problems. Aloe helps the long-term management of fungal infections of the skin, including dandruff. Bacteriostatic effects of Aloe are not just to sustain the pH. The constitution of the pulp also includes antibacterial substances. Mucopolysaccharides also have antibacterial properties (sealing of cell walls).



Aloe gel soothes and reduces inflammation – Aloe vera contains a promotional growth factor, which speeds up the curative process and sustains the operations associated with immune response. Aloe inhibits the inhibitory result of specific antiseptics (drugs), and helps to cure wounds much quicker. Aloe prevents the release of bradykinin and histamine – tissue hormones, unrestricted in response to the effects of tissue injury. These two hormones trigger an acute redness in a short time after accidents or bites. And saponins contained in Aloe work as an astringent and ease swelling, redness, and bruising.



I’m still mostly sceptical where anti-ageing products are concerned, but I’m a convert in the case of aloe vera. I’ve been using it now for seven years and my skin has without doubt improved in touch and depth. What’s more, I’m at that age when those dreaded liver spots threaten to materialize, but I’ve noticed that they never really come to anything on my face. Dr Peter Atherton, a primary world authority on aloe vera says in his article Aloe Vera – Myth or Medicine: ‘The best demonstration of this effect that I have ever seen, was shown by Dr. Ivan Danhof, an American surgeon who has worked with topical aloe applications in the makeup business for 30 years. When testing new creams and lotions, being right-handed, he always applied the material with the fingers of his right hand to the back of his left hand in order to assess its texture, aroma and penetrability. He now affirms that he has one older hand and one young hand and in actual fact the contrast when he places his palms together to show the backs, side by side, is pretty amazing. One hand is the normal hand of a seventy-year- old with thinning, wrinkled skin covered in a selection of blemishes, whilst the other, his left hand, is clear and even and looks 30 years younger.’



I’ve been much less thorough where my hands are concerned, but now I’m going to plaster them with aloe, day in, day out, so that they too look 30 years younger. Well, wouldn’t you?