Aloe vera, effective skin care and acne removal

Due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera gel is used for treating acne and is used in many over-the-counter skin care products. You can apply aloe vera on acne lesions on your face and other parts of your body. The advantage is aloe vera gel can be used on its own or in combination with other natural products.

Aloe vera is a relatively safe way to treat and prevent acne. It is likely that not all methods will work for everyone, but aloe vera is very gentle on the skin, so there is little risk in trying it. The risks from aloe vera, if any, are topical allergic reactions, but very rare. Recognizable signs of an allergy include redness, a rash, or swelling. If these symptoms occur, you should stop using aloe vera. The safest way, you should test on your hands first to test your body's reaction, before you apply it on your face, or consult a doctor. Aloe vera is an alternative treatment, so that there are no guidelines for strength or dosage. Crocus Media suggests you some safe ways to use, you can try and choose the most suitable one for you.

Pure aloe vera
To treat existing acne, some people apply aloe vera to the affected area and leave it on overnight. It is important to wash it off in the morning. Research shows that aloe vera has certain characteristics that may make it effective in fighting acne, such as:
√ an antibacterial
√ an antioxidant
√ an anti-inflammatory
A person may use pure aloe vera cream instead of a traditional cleanser to prevent acne breakouts. This works because the antibacterial agents in aloe vera remove bacteria from the skin, reducing the risk of spots developing.

Aloe vera and lemon juice
Citric acid found in fruits such as lemons may alsoTrusted Source help to treat acne. Pure lemon juice is acidic, so mixing this with aloe vera may stop the lemon juice from irritating the skin.

A person can make a face mask by mixing aloe vera and lemon juice in an 8 to 1 ratio, spreading this evenly over the face, and leaving it on for about 10 minutes. Importantly, they should avoid the sensitive eye area and wash the mask off thoroughly afterwards.

Cinnamon, honey, and aloe vera
Making a face mask from honey, cinnamon, and aloe vera is another option that may help to soothe acne. Cinnamon and honey have similar antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to aloe vera.

To make a cinnamon, honey, and aloe vera face mask, a person can mix about 2 tablespoons (tbsp) of honey, 1 tbsp of aloe vera, and ¼ teaspoon (tsp) of cinnamon in a small bowl. This can be applied to the face, left on for 10 minutes, and washed off with warm water.

Coconut oil, sugar, and aloe vera scrub
Many over-the-counter exfoliants contain chemicals. A person who wishes to avoid chemicals can make their own scrub, using a combination of coconut oil, sugar, and aloe vera. The grains in sugar remove the dead layers of skin. Studies suggest that lauric acid, a key component of coconut oil, may help to fight acne.

People they can make a scrub using equal parts sugar and coconut oil, mixed with half the amount of aloe vera. Once mixed, the scrub can be applied over the affected area and then rinsed off. Avoid exfoliating too regularly, and always consult a doctor before using exfoliating creams on acne, as they can further irritate the skin.

Aloe Vera Creams
Aloe vera is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter acne creams. People can find out which products contain aloe vera by looking at the active ingredients listed on the label.

It may be a good idea to use creams containing aloe vera as part of the everyday acne-fighting routine because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

Compiled and penned by Crocus Media