Does Aloe Vera Help with Sunburn? ⋆ Sundicators

If you manage to forget how important taking sun-safety precautions are before going outside for any length of time, there’s a fairly good chance you’ll find yourself sporting a painful sunburn. If that should ever occur, (with any luck no more than once) it’ll hopefully serve as a reminder not to let it happen again. Be that as it may, what’s done is done. So when it comes time to assuage that pain, the question becomes what will help? To be more specific, Does Aloe vera Help with Sunburn?

From the medicinal to the organic to the folkloric, there are a large number of methods that are purported to take some of the discomfort out of a sunburn. For this blog post though we’ll be focusing on aloe vera, as it’s one of the more popular treatments associated almost exclusively with sun skin damage.

Going Green With Aloe Vera

So, just how effective is this pretty emerald leaf? Well, depending on who you ask or what research you’ve read, (please see links to the source articles provided below) it can vary depending on how you apply it.

Aloe vera is available for purchase in gel form at numerous retail outlets. Not unlike many other products, its levels of effectiveness can often depend on how much you’re willing to spend on it. Also, if you have some at home that’s been sitting in a cabinet for a while, you might want to just buy some more. The older aloe vera gel gets, the less of a healing impact it will have on your sunburn or sun damaged skin.*

There is an alternative to the gels too, and it reminds me of the old saying that the best way to get something is to go right to the source. That saying is relevant here, because juice directly squeezed from the aloe vera plant itself will be a more effective treatment than the processed, store-bought versions.*

Aloe vera leaves should be stored in the refrigerator. Then when they’re needed, open them up and apply the juice right on to the affected skin.* Livestrong.com adds that it can also be mixed first with Vitamin E, which in and of itself is good for sunburns. It’ll help reduce the sting felt upon the application of an astringent like aloe vera, too.*
If you do decide to go the latter route of using the plant itself, fashionista.com suggests you should try a small amount out on an unburned portion of your skin first; just to ensure you’re not allergic to it.* That seems to us like very sage advice.

The Best Solution To Avoid Sunburn?

Although it’s true that there are differing degrees of severity when it comes to sunburns, it’s also true that there is no such thing as a “mild sunburn”. Every sunburn your skin endures raises the percentage chance for the risk of getting skin cancer or, much worse, Melanoma. The ultimate result of sun skin damage might occur sooner, or it might occur later. But sooner or later, it will occur. Instead, use your power to make the question of aloe vera’s effectiveness moot by never even having to find out.
Please, practice sun-safety and use a Sundicator Wristband to remind you when its time to re-apply sunscreen throughout the day.

*Additional source articles: Fashionista, Live Strong
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About Kerry

Kerry Spindler is a Melanoma survivor and celebrity fashion and beauty expert. She uses her experience in the fashion and beauty world to bring greater awareness to skin cancer and Melanoma.