If you suffer from acne scars, you aren't alone. About 80% of people between the age of 11 and 30 suffer from acne. About one in five of those people will develop scarring. Using aloe vera on your scars is a natural method for reducing the look and feel of your scars. However, you don't want to buy just any aloe gel. This guide will show you the key ingredients to look for, how to use your gel, and the benefits you can expect.
The Basics of Aloe Vera
The aloe vera plant is a succulent that's native to Africa. These hardy plants have plump leaves that are full of gel. If you have a green thumb, you can find aloe plants at your local hardware store or nursery. However, there's a much easier way to get your aloe vera juice. Look for an aloe gel that comes ready to use; no potting or growing required.
Buying Your Aloe Gel
If you're wondering which aloe vera gel is good for acne-prone skin; look for a gel that has a high percentage of aloe vera. Low-quality gels will have very little aloe, making them almost useless. The higher the aloe content, the more pure the gel will be, and the more benefits your skin will experience.
Avoid gels that list alcohol as a primary ingredient. This creates a similar cooling effect as aloe, but actually dries out your skin, making your issues worse.
Avoid products that say "100% gel". These are telling you that they are gel, but not 100% aloe vera gel.
If the gel you buy is bright green, then you know it's loaded with artificial colouring. Natural aloe is clear to light golden in colour.
How to Get Rid of Acne Scars
Once you have your aloe gel, you'll want to apply it to the affected skin twice a day. Continue this every day for several weeks or months. The process is slow, but with a commitment to consistent use, you'll begin to see your scars lighten, inflammation fade, and skin texture improve. Keep in mind that it takes skin up to 28 days to turnover. So you won't see a change for the first month of use. It can take longer if your scars are older.
The Benefits of Aloe
So how does aloe work? The gel contained in the leaves boosts your body's natural immune system response. This sends healing properties to where you apply the aloe. The second benefit aloe provides is the increased production of collagen and elastin fibre. These give your skin flexibility, elasticity, and texture. As your skin produces more, the scarred skin is damaged, so aloe helps restore the original qualities of the skin. The third benefit is the reduction of inflammation. This is the redness and irritation you see. If you have a lot of inflammation, consider using a combination of aloe vera and rose water for maximum inflammation reduction.
