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As the ongoing heat waves extend beach time for many people in the United States, you can end up with bad sunburn. And maybe you could go to your local drugstore to buy a bottle of aloe to soothe it.
The aloe vera plant (also called Aloe barbadensis) is a succulent, cactus-like plant that grows in hot, dry places. For thousands of years, people have been extracting the gel from its long, prickly leaves and using it as a balm for a variety of ailments, such as burns, abrasions, skin sores and more. The gel, which is mostly water, contains dozens of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, and other compounds that can have various medicinal effects.
But while the global aloe vera gel market has reached around $ 625 million in 2020 and is expected to grow in the years to come, potions found in drugstores have had their fair share of controversy. In July, tests revealed that some CVS-branded aloe products were contaminated with benzene, a carcinogen. And previous tests have found that some aloe products, found in retail stores and online, did not contain aloe at all. That, coupled with little solid data on the effectiveness of aloe in soothing a bad burn, as well as limited federal regulation of what’s in over-the-counter products, has made some wonder. if they had to search for it.
Here is what we know.
Will aloe vera help a sunburn?
It is possible, but the evidence is patchy. In 2012, Oliver Grundmann, a pharmaceutical chemist at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Florida, reviewed 18 clinical trials on the use of aloe for various conditions – burns, genital herpes, dandruff, psoriasis – and found some evidence that it might have anti-inflammatory effects when used on a sunburn.
In a 40-person randomized trial published in 2008, for example, researchers exposed participants’ lower backs to UV light and treated the resulting redness with four different substances – a 97.5% aloe vera gel, 1% hydrocortisone gel, 1% hydrocortisone cream, and placebo gel (with nothing in it). After 48 hours under a bandage, aloe gel appeared to be more effective in reducing skin redness than hydrocortisone gel, but less effective than hydrocortisone cream (which stays on the skin longer and is easier to absorb. than a gel).
Other studies have shown that people with first and second degree burns can heal faster with aloe than they would with other types of treatments like topical antibiotics. And while animals aren’t humans, some rodent studies have found promising results. In a paper published in June, researchers used a hot iron bar to cause second-degree burns to a small area on the backs of anesthetized rats and found that, compared to stem cell injections, the gel of aloe reduced the time required for burns. to tend to. Another rat study from 2014 showed a reduction in inflammation with aloe treatment on UV-induced burns.
However, not all studies have shown any benefit. A kid from 2005, for example, found that applying aloe vera cream to the UV-induced burns of 20 people twice a day for three weeks was not effective in curing the burn.
Aloe falls under the category of treatments that have some supporting evidence, but not a ton, said Dr. Laura Ferris, a dermatologist at the University of Pittsburgh and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. “I think it’s fair to recommend with the caveat that it will help cool the skin and there is a chance that it will speed healing,” she said. “But we don’t have the type of large, rigorous studies that we rely on in medicine to be able to quantify benefits or recommend a specific product.”
What does this mean for the aloe vera products that I find in pharmacies?
In research studies, scientists typically use gels and creams that contain precise concentrations of aloe, Dr. Ferris said. But because over-the-counter aloe vera products are considered cosmetics, they aren’t strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, and aren’t standardized that way. So the quality of what you get may vary, and the benefits found in research studies may not apply directly to aloe products that you can find online or in drugstores.
Also, the products you buy are not guaranteed to contain aloe. In 2016, for example, Bloomberg published the results of a survey of four store-branded aloe gels sold by Walmart, Target, CVS and Walgreens. After lab tests looked for three chemical markers of aloe – acemannan, malic acid, and glucose – they found that three of the four products tested (from Walmart, Target, and CVS) contained no evidence of aloe. One product, sold by Walgreens, had a single marker for aloe, malic acid, but experts said that was not enough to prove the presence of aloe. Testing identified an ingredient called maltodextrin, a hydrating plant sugar that’s sometimes used as a cheaper alternative to aloe, in Walmart, Target, and CVS products.
Likewise, a 2015 study commissioned by ConsumerLab.com, found aloe in only half of the 10 aloe pills, gels, and drinks it tested. “Some were very good, and some had virtually none of the aloe compounds,” said Dr. Tod Cooperman, president and founder of ConsumerLab.com.
Recent tests have also revealed that some aloe vera products are contaminated with harmful substances. In July, CVS suspended the sale of two aloe vera products (CVS Health After Sun Aloe Vera and CVS Health After Sun Aloe Vera Spray) after tests revealed low levels of benzene, a known carcinogen. which has recently been found in some sprays. sun creams. When inhaled, benzene has been shown to cause leukemia and other types of cancer, although few studies have examined how harmful it is when applied to the skin.
“We are committed to ensuring that the products we offer are safe, perform as expected, meet regulations and satisfy customers,” a CVS spokesperson said via email.
Ouch. So, is aloe vera safe to use? And should I buy it?
Unless you have skin sensitivity, aloe vera gel is generally safe for the skin. And while it’s not clear how common contamination with something like benzene is, it’s probably quite rare, Dr Ferris said.
The biggest potential downside to sunburned skin, in most cases, is that a product won’t help if it doesn’t actually contain aloe. “There is some data that it works,” Dr. Ferris said. “You just have to make sure you have real aloe. “
Unfortunately, without regulations and a home testing lab, you won’t know for sure. The ingredient list might offer some clues, said Dr. Anne Chapas, a dermatologist in New York City and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology. Aloe vera should be listed as one of the top three, she said, suggesting it’s one of the main components.
Looking for Latin names, like Aloe vera or Aloe barbadensis, on the list can also help verify that an aloe product is real, Dr Grundmann said. Just avoid products that say they contain Aloe ferox, a different plant species that is smaller, grows faster, and costs less to use than aloe, but is less well researched, has different medicinal properties. and does not work against sunburn.
Some products, but not all, may list the concentrations of its active ingredients. Dr Grundmann suggested looking for 95% pure aloe vera gel, although Dr Ferris cautioned against relying too much on the percentages shown on the labels.
“There are a lot of products that say 100%, but the wording can be misleading,” she said. “Some say 100 percent aloe, but also contain other ingredients, which means they are not 100 percent aloe. Others say there is 100% gel, but not that 100% of what’s in that gel is aloe. Due to this lack of standardization in concentrations, she said, it’s difficult to recommend a specific percentage to watch.
That being said, buying a bottle of aloe is unlikely to break the bank. You can buy a 16-ounce bottle of aloe vera gel from Target for around $ 6.
What other methods can I use to relieve sunburn?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, frequent baths or cool showers can help relieve the discomfort of sunburn. Applying a thick, emollient moisturizer can protect and hydrate the skin, Dr. Chapas said. Drinking more water can also help prevent dehydration, and pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen can reduce swelling, redness, or discomfort.
Short-term use of corticosteroid creams can also relieve itching and inflammation of the skin, Dr. Grundmann said. (Keeping the cream in the fridge can add a cooling effect, he added.) And always make sure to protect sunburned skin from additional sun exposure as it heals.
However, the most effective strategy of all, experts say, is to avoid needing aloe in the first place. “The best thing to do is to avoid sunburn,” said Dr. Grundmann. “This is always my first recommendation.”
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