Growing up my aunt always kept Aloe Vera plants in her garden. I’d sometimes see her cut off a piece and take it into the kitchen but I never really knew what she did with it. I suppose I should have asked! It was only when I was in my teens that I learned about the healing properties of aloe vera for the skin. And it was only in my 20s when I tried actually using aloe vera for acne scars.
Aloe Vera is a species of plant that is used medicinally to treat skin conditions and digestive ailments. It is native to North Africa and has been used both topically and internally as a healing treatment for at least 6,000 years. Pure aloe vera gel from inside the stem of the plant can be used directly on the skin to benefit from the healing properties.
I discovered aloe vera as a skincare treatment when I was looking for products to get rid of the dark marks on my face, and a friend suggested I try aloe vera for acne scars. It’s a gentle and natural option to treat hyperpigmentation and obtain a fantastic skintone.
What makes aloe vera so good for acne scars?
Aloe vera contains natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that make it ideal for treating skin ailments. With its nutrient rich properties, aloe vera is a good at home remedy for treating mild to moderate acne and areas of mild hyperpigmentation, including acne scars and melasma. When aloe vera is applied on dry skin, it allows for skin tissue regeneration and promotes good blood circulation.
You can apply aloe vera directly to the skin or combine it with other ingredients to make a face mask. You can make a simple skin lightening face mask by mixing one honey with one part aloe vera gel. Apply it for 20 minutes before washing off.
If you’d prefer to use pure aloe vera without mixing it with anything else, you could apply the gel to your face before going to sleep and washing it off in the morning. Your skin will feel tight as the aloe vera dries on your face but continue doing this and you will notice that your dark marks begin to fade.
Where to Buy Aloe Vera
You can buy an aloe vera plant from a garden centre so that you can cut off a stem whenever you need to. Aloe vera plants are very low maintenance but if you don’t want to do that, you can buy 100% aloe vera gel from your local health shop or online. There are many products that contain aloe vera juice or gel but the best thing to go for is pure aloe vera gel that contains no additives or other added ingredients.
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Using aloe vera for acne scars is very effective but as with all natural ingredients, it does work quite slowly. If you want a faster method to treat your acne scars, you may want to consider using a skin lightening cream that contains natural ingredients such as Meladerm.
Find out more about Meladerm for treating acne scars and dark marks