Aloe Vera: all links so far

aloe vera

• Aloe isn’t just for sunburns (upcoming)

• Aloe vera and intolerance—it can happen

• CANKER SORES—ouch! A few go-to products to help heal these painful mouth ulcers

• The Healing Properties of Aloe Vera

• My Sunburn Preparedness Kit

• SUNBURN RELIEF COCKTAIL: Important TIPS & help for healing a sunburn—updated

SUNBURN RELIEF COCKTAIL: Important TIPS & help for healing a sunburn—updated

So now you’ve done it—you’re showcasing a really bad sunburn. Your friends are calling you The Lobster because you fried your skin in the sun. While they may be chuckling at you (hopefully not!), you are really in pain. It’s like lying on a stove top with the burners on. You’re a piece of toast that stayed a bit too long in the toaster. You’re overdone.

If you’ve ever had sunburns you know how painful they can be, and a sunburn can bring with it some serious side effects. Because you have just damaged a large section of skin, your body has been signaled to flood the area with fluids to help begin the repairing process. This will cause slight to acute swelling or edema. It will make your skin feel tight and even more painful as the fluids stretch out your burned and sensitive skin. I want to emphasize the importance of the following advice. It has saved me and many clients from a lot of pain. I hope you never get burned, but if it happens I hope this Sunburn Relief Cocktail can help.

Yes, that is me about 10 years ago

I have gotten some really bad sunburns in my lifetime. Mostly they occurred before I became an aesthetician but sometimes on a rare occasion, I could be found with a bad burn well into my 40s. Regarding this photo of sunburned me: It just goes to show you that even when you know better, you don’t always do better. I was on a mountain hike (when I lived in Colorado). I had a long-sleeved shirt to throw on, and for whatever the reason(s), I didn’t. And I paid the price—obviously. But I did take a photo to show you that even the smartest people can do dumb things! On another mountain excursion, I missed a small spot on my arm when applying sunscreen and got a sunburn there. After using this cocktail, my skin never peeled and the red of the burn went away within a day.

The Sunburn Relief Cocktail is something easy to use, with products that are easy to find, that will give you relief immediately and throughout your sunburn to help heal your skin and keep it from flaking as time goes by.

The ingredients for the Sunburn Relief Cocktail are simple:

1. Aloe vera gel
2. Lavender essential oil
3. Body cream, whichever one you currently use

That’s it. I’ll go into more detail about these items, especially the aloe, to help you understand why you want to include them in your sunburn relief concoction then I’ll give my recommendations for application.

Aloe vera is 99% water, 1% protein. The water helps to replace the fluids that have been lost through sun exposure; the protein helps to rebuild damaged tissue. Aloe is a contact healer, meaning it starts to heal on contact. In cases of severe burns, aloe vera alone as well as this cocktail will not be enough, and you will want to seek medical treatment. But for the average, milder type of sunburn, aloe vera gel along with the other two ingredients in your cocktail will give you instant relief.

You’ll want to find a product that is at least 95% aloe gel, although nowadays 100% aloe is easy to find. The higher the percentage, the less “other junk” will be in it. There are gels on the market with ingredients like allantoin (a soothing agent extracted from the herb, comfrey) and cucumber extract, which are both beneficial in calming sunburned skin. So not all additions to the gel are “bad” but if you see a lot of chemical names in the ingredient list, search for a more pure product. Aloe vera gel is not expensive, and it keeps for a long time if refrigerated.

Lavender essential oil will add healing and soothing properties to your sunburned skin. It will help take the burn out of the area as well as help the affected skin to heal. This essential oil is easy to find. However, you want to be sure you purchase pure essential oil of lavender—not lavendin or a blend—just 100% lavender essential oil. Just to note: here with lavender and anywhere I discuss essential oils, I use the following names interchangeably: lavender, lavender oil, lavender essential oil, essential oil of lavender.

As far as your body lotion, assuming you have one, unless it has a lot of perfume in it, I imagine just about any one will do. The point to using a cream in this cocktail is so there is an emollient covering over the burned skin, rather than only having the fast absorbing aloe gel there. With the lotion, all the ingredients will have a better chance of staying on the affected skin vs. the aloe (even mixed with lavender), which will quickly absorb and your skin will be left to dry out.

If you don’t have a body moisturizing cream, you certainly can use a face cream although they usually are more expensive, so you make that choice. Body creams are easy to find and you can purchase something that is inexpensive. But do be sure to include a moisturizer in your Sunburn Relief Cocktail to insure your skin will be hydrated, not only from the aloe but from a cream as well.

If you are burned, you’ll want to start applying these products immediately and frequently. Here is what I recommend:

• First, apply straight aloe gel to the sunburned areas. Be generous! Applying aloe vera gel is one time you don’t want to scrimp on product. Let that first application dry, which won’t take long since it’s a gel.

• Next, apply a mixture of aloe vera gel along with several drops of lavender essential oil and whatever body cream you are using. Slather this on the affected area(s). The aloe vera helps with hydrating the skin and helping it heal faster; lavender takes the burn out of the overexposed skin and also soothes the area; the body cream keeps the lavender on the skin and also helps to hydrate at the same time. All of this will also help to keep the sunburned skin from peeling.

As soon as the Sunburn Relief Cocktail drys, I would reapply it. Or at least reapply it every 20 to 30 minutes for the first few hours and every hour or so after that for the first day of your burn. I have recommended this course of action to many clients over the years as well as using it for my own overexposure. If you keep applying the Sunburn Relief Cocktail  it can have a remarkable effect on a sunburn. 

I have to add this: Before I came up with this cocktail, I only used aloe vera gel on sunburns and still had amazing results as far as helping take the burn out as well as my skin not peeling. However, at some point I decided to try the other ingredients to super-power the aloe and found that incorporating all 3 items made the burn go away faster as well as helping the skin to stay hydrated. And because you’re using a moisturizer, you don’t have to apply the aloe gel as frequently since it doesn’t dry out due to the cream.

Don’t wait until you’ve become a lobster before getting these products at the store, and don’t forget to take them with you. Even hiking in the cool mountains can cause sunburn if your skin is overexposed. If you’re going on a vacation, or simply to the beach, put aloe, lavender, and body cream (perhaps a travel size) with you in your sunburn tool kit. You may not plan on being overexposed, but it happens so be prepared, and check out my Sunburn Preparedness Kit, too, for even more items to keep the burn away.

For more information, see:

• The Healing Properties of Aloe Vera 
• Lavender: A Medicine Cabinet Must!—updated
• My Sunburn Preparedness Kit

Aloe vera and intolerance—it can happen

Aloe vera is a plant that is known for its healing abilities. Today, it can be found as an ingredient in many skin care products, both for the face as well as the body. Personally, I have had many success stories where aloe came to my skin’s rescue, and I have many friends and clients who have discovered the miraculous healing abilities of this desert plant.

However, as with most things in life, not everything works for everybody, and such is the case with aloe. Along with all the success stories about how aloe saved people’s skin, I have heard from some people who had reactions to it as well. If you are unsure if you are allergic, read through this article as well as Allergic Reactions to Products (link below) to gather more information. As great as aloe vera is, it is within the realm of possibility that you could react to it.

I am including stories of how aloe didn’t work to let you know it is not uncommon to have an intolerance to this ingredient. Unfortunate as that may be, if you find you get irritated after using aloe vera, stop using it. 

Natural isn’t always 100% satisfaction

I was told by a pharmacist that aloe worked well to clear up acne because it was natural and oil-free. So I would put aloe on periodically, thinking it would soothe my face. I would usually break out soon afterwards. I never connected the breakout to the aloe because I was only using it off and on.

I have read the ingredients in my body lotions and many have aloe in them. It seems to be fine on my body, but as far as my face goes I will not use something that has any aloe—I can’t afford to aggravate my face.

Regarding this email, although aloe vera is a great product and I’m sure its benefits would be good for almost any skin condition, it wouldn’t be the first thing I’d reach for to treat problem skin, including acne. Regardless, this person discovered it was the aloe vera in her products that she was intolerant to so she discontinued use. It isn’t always easy to figure out what could be causing a skin reaction, reading the article mentioned and listed below will hopefully help you if you run into product trouble.

The following comes from a former neighbor, Teressa, who called me up one day after putting aloe gel on her face. She had a bad burning reaction that left her skin bright red. In the following email, she is updating me on her aloe investigation.

After my face calmed down from using aloe gel, I purchased a brand new bottle of Lily of the Desert®. I opened it up, put it on my face, and the same thing happened again—it burned and made my skin red and irritated. I know aloe is supposed to be good for me, but I guess I’m allergic to it.

Yes, Teressa, you are one of many people I have encountered who just have an intolerance to aloe. You might want to be careful in the future and watch your skin’s reaction if you use products that have aloe in the ingredient list. You may not be able to use it straight on your skin, while still being able to use products with aloe in them. Because the percentage of aloe will be low if it is in a product, compared to the nearly 100% strength you have been using, you may be able to tolerate it.

Lily of the Desert is actually a good choice for a high-strength aloe vera gel. After Teressa’s email, I went out and purchased this brand and was happy to see it was 99% aloe. It is inexpensive and can be found in most health food stores. Lily of the Desert isn’t the only brand available, but it certainly is a good choice—as long as you don’t have allergies to aloe.

Your skin will always tell you if it is intolerant to something you have applied. Don’t disregard these signs, and discontinue using anything that causes an adverse reaction.

For more information, see

• Allergic Reactions to Products & The 72-Hour Test
• Sensitive Skin: Q & A
• The Healing Properties of Aloe Vera

The Healing Properties of Aloe Vera

I can’t say enough about this miraculous herb. I have used aloe in many different circumstances, and each time it came through with flying colors.

Aloe vera is my #1 sunburn remedy. Whenever you’re going someplace where you’ll be exposed to the sun, I strongly recommend taking a bottle of aloe vera gel with you. It is easy to use and does a great job of healing and soothing the skin. Don’t leave home without it.

You can find 100% aloe vera gel at most health food stores. You don’t want to use a gel that has less than 95% aloe in it. Otherwise, you may get too many unwanted ingredients along with the aloe.

• Simply apply the gel to sunburned areas
• Because it’s a gel, it will dry fairly quickly
• Depending on the severity of the burn, I would apply it liberally and frequently
• It works on any kind of burn, not just sunburn

Keep it on hand for vacations or whenever you know you’ll get extended sun exposure.

Aloe vera gel is also good for dehydrated skin. If your skin has been exposed to the sun for an extended period of time (even if there is no sunburn), applying aloe gel is helpful. Because it is primarily water, aloe vera helps to replace the water lost through sun exposure, rehydrates the skin, and helps to reduce outer tissue damage.

Another way to keep general dehydration at bay on your face is to apply the gel after cleansing and before toning and using your moisturizer. The gel will act as an extra layer of hydration, adding water to the skin without adding oil. Therefore, aloe gel can help with all dehydrated skin, even if you have oily skin. Because of its gel-nature, it might cause a slight flakiness, which is just due to the dried gel. Usually if you apply moisturizer over the aloe gel, the flaking won’t occur.

An obstinate abscess. Years ago, my cat, Grace, was spayed. She kept licking her stitches and eventually developed an abscess due to the irritation. After the vet drained the abscess, he recommended keeping the cat from cleaning the area for a few days. How was I going to do that?

Knowing the healing properties of aloe vera gel, I put it on Grace’s stitches. She didn’t much like the taste, so I thought it would stop her from licking the area. I kept reapplying the gel frequently, and to my amazement, within 48 hours the abscess had completely gone away, and her incision had miraculously healed. I couldn’t believe it. I always knew the amazing healing job aloe could do for a sunburn, but I had never experienced its ability to heal a cut or an incision. Being termed a contact healer, it makes sense it would speed recovery with almost any injury.

Air bag survivor. A client called one day after her friend had been involved in a car accident. The air bag deployed (which was good), but the impact had basically burned her face (which was bad). The sudden speed of something hitting your face like that is bound to cause injury. This lady looked battered and bruised, and a good deal of her facial skin was singed. I recommended applying 100% aloe vera gel liberally and frequently and told her it was to be kept on at all times. I sent some information so she’d know what aloe was and why she was using it. Then I sat back and waited, knowing aloe vera would come to the rescue.

After a few days my client called with the results: Her friend only showed a trace of the accident’s effects. The burned places had healed up within the first day, and she didn’t show any signs of being in an accident. My client went on and on about how she couldn’t believe the difference between seeing her friend just moments after the accident in comparison to seeing her a few days later. They were both amazed that aloe vera gel could do so much in so little time.

The following information about the attributes of aloe vera is being used with permission from the authors of The How To Herb Book, my number one favorite herb book.

Aloe vera is one of the most popular and well-known herbs. It truly is one of the great healers. It belongs to the lili family of the succulent “aloes,” not the cactus as many people believe. Aloes have been used for centuries; they have even been found in Egyptian tombs.

Aloe vera:

• contains a pain-relieving agent and is a “contact-healer,” which means it starts healing on contact.
• is excellent for burns.
• gel is used by nursing mothers for sore nipples.
• rapidly penetrates the three layers of skin, carrying nutrients to all layers.
• juice can be used as an eyedrop to improve circulation and eyesight.
• stimulates circulation in wounded areas, which also promotes healing.
• promotes removal of dead skin and stimulates the normal growth of living cells, which helps wounds to heal rapidly.
• prevents and draws out infection.
• relieves itching in chicken pox.
• expels pinworms. Drink juice for several days.
• moisturizes and improves the skin. Is put in many cosmetics and shampoos. When the product contains other natural ingredients beneficial to the skin, this is wonderful because aloe vera’s penetrating ability helps to carry them through the three layers of skin. But if the products contain harmful additives, chemicals, or colorings, they could also be carried through the three layers of skin. Know what is in your product. Read the label!

I recommend keeping an aloe plant or at least some aloe vera gel (if not the juice, too) in your home. Not only for sunburns or burns you receive in the kitchen, aloe can help keep your skin feeling more hydrated—especially during the colder winter months.

For more information, see:

• My Sunburn Preparedness Kit
• SUNBURN RELIEF COCKTAIL: Important TIPS & help for healing a sunburn—updated
• 21 Years of Grace, if you’re interested in learning more about my wonder cat 

My Sunburn Preparedness Kit

If you are going on any kind of outing, take the following items to ensure you won’t have an attack of “lobster skin.” All of these suggested articles will fit in a small backpack or beach bag. Don’t leave home without them, or you may come back home sporting a sunburn. 

Always have a lightweight, long-sleeved, white T-shirt (like the kind you get for running a race or a sun-protective type). It will cover most of your upper body and save you from burning. You can pull it on and off if you are boating, on the beach, or even taking a long walk or hike. It can be wrapped around your waist when you aren’t wearing it. Lighter colors reflect light and won’t make you feel as hot as darker colors. Better yet, purchase an SPF-rated long-sleeved shirt. These are widely available nowadays, although they can be pricey.

Cotton, linen, or other lightweight, drawstring or other loose-fitting pants in a light, sun-reflecting color are good to have around—especially on a boat. If your legs have been exposed for a while, slip these pants on and keep the sun away until you’re ready for more. You can find SPF-rated long pants as well.

A bandana or scarf is another important sun protector. The T-shirt won’t cover the nape of your neck. If you have short hair or your hair is pulled up off your neck, this area is highly susceptible to sunburn. The bandana or scarf can be tied loosely around your neck, like a scout, covering most of the back of your neck. You can also dip the bandana in water before putting it on. (The water will help to keep you cool.) 

Take a hat. You should always have a hat with you, even if it’s just a visor or baseball cap, if you are going to be out in the sun. Wide-brimmed hats offer you much better sun protection than caps, but any kind of hat is better than no hat at all.

Of course, you want your trusty sunscreen. Waterproof is best if you are going to be in, on, or by the water. Waterproof sun protection also needs to be worn if you are going to be outside in the heat for any length of time where you’ll be sweating (even mowing the lawn or gardening). And finally, if you will be exercising, then of course you’ll want to wear waterproof sunscreen. Otherwise, in the first few minutes of sweating, you will be left unprotected.

Don’t forget your sunglasses. Most sunglasses sold today have UV sun protectors built into the glass. Check to make sure, and then make sure to wear them. Not only can they filter harmful rays from your eyes, but they will also keep you from squinting. (Squinting will rapidly increase the lines around your eyes.)

Aloe and sunburn. Probably the best known treatment for sunburn is aloe vera gel. If this is news to you, next time you have a severe or even just a slight sunburn, be sure to have aloe vera gel handy to help treat your damaged skin. Aloe is almost entirely made up of water along with proteins. Since sunburned skin has essentially had all the water sucked out of it, replenishing this vital hydrating liquid is all-important. Aloe vera gel will not only soothe the pain and swelling of a sunburn, it will also speed healing of your sun-damaged skin. Since sunburns do happen, always have aloe vera gel (100% gel is fairly easy to find) in your sunburn kit for those times when the sun has gotten the better of you.

Drinking water is also important because it helps to rehydrate your system after sun exposure. A bowl of water sitting in the hot sun will evaporate in a short time. Your body, through sweating and evaporation, also loses a lot of water when out in the sun. These fluids need to be replaced often. Keep in mind, alcohol is a diuretic and leaches water out of your body. If you’re drinking alcohol and are exposed to the sun, you really need to seek out some shade and keep your system hydrated with lots and lots of water.

All of these items

• a long-sleeved T-shirt
• loose-fitting pants
• a bandana
• a hat
• sunscreen
• sunglasses
• aloe vera gel
• water 

can easily be carried with you whenever you’re going to engage in outdoor activities. Be prepared, be careful, and most of all enjoy your (protected) self.

For more information, see:

• Hats, Hats, Hats! Protect your skin in the sun 
• SUNBURN RELIEF COCKTAIL: Important TIPS & help for healing a sunburn—updated
• To reapply or not. Is that in question?

CANKER SORES—ouch! A few go-to products to help heal these painful mouth ulcers

When clients come in who admit to eating sugar but have no outward signs of excess sugar consumption (like breakouts, for instance), I will not only ask if they get frequent headaches, which many times is a side effect of excess sugar, but also do they get canker sores inside their mouth or on their tongue? Your body simply cannot throw off sugar into thin air. The toxic residue from this “white devil” has to be eliminated somehow, some way, somewhere.

I believe these inner-mouth sores (sometimes called ulcers or technically aphthous ulcers) are actually similar to blemishes—like a zit inside your mouth. Why? Once again, from my own life experience, these sores arise in relation to the amount of sugar I have consumed. I am not saying that every canker sore’s appearance is due to sugar. I am simply trying to give you my own personal experience with these problem spots and why I have discovered they occur. You may find other offenders and have a different experience than I have had.

Other causes may be vitamin deficiency, stress, or even a poorly functioning immune system. Since sugar depletes both vitamins in your body and immune function, sugar could very well be the culprit. Also, eating too much citrus can cause problems inside your mouth as well as little sores on the corners of your mouth. Some people think wheat or even dairy products could be to blame.

Be sure to notice why you think the sores are there. Sometimes I will get them but cannot find where I have had obvious sugar in my diet. Then, after really analyzing everything I’ve eaten, I usually can find a cause. It may be something as benign as a new brand of crackers or even a pasta dish I ate at a restaurant that probably had added sugar in.

Regardless of why they have appeared, canker sores are painful little beasts. There are several remedies I have found to be effective for relieving the pain of these irritated sores as well as helping them to go away faster. I don’t have a lot of time or a lot of special ingredients in my home. I want to reach for something, apply it, and be done with it. So the following are simple and easy treatments to help the pain and suffering of canker sores.

Try rinsing your mouth with tepid salt water. Mix 2-3 teaspoons of table salt, or better yet, sea salt in a glass of warm water. Stir the salt until it dissolves, then swish in your mouth, paying attention to the location of the canker sore(s). Keep swishing for about 15-20 seconds, then spit and repeat. Salt water helps to reduce the swelling and irritation in these open sores. Do this several times a day for several days until the pain begins to subside, letting you know healing is starting to occur.

A less time-consuming treatment is to simply apply a drop of peppermint essential oil to the spots. Do this with a Q-tip. Otherwise, if you use a finger, you run the risk of accidentally putting that same finger with peppermint oil on it in or near your eyes later on. (I have done this in the past—use a Q-tip!) I recommend getting the oil on one end of the Q-tip first; then get a grip on your lip or mouth. Take the other, dry side of the Q-tip and place gently on the sore to dry it off. Next, put the peppermint on the area. Then, keep holding onto the skin to keep the area just treated from getting wet. Why? Because closing your mouth will cause the essential oil to mix with your saliva, rendering the treatment less effective. Keep the area open for 10-20 seconds so you can keep the treatment oil on the spot—alone—before it gets mixed into your mouth. Peppermint is powerful so do be careful when using it. One side benefit will be fresh—very fresh breath!

Clove oil can be an effective numbing agent for canker sores. Also used on toothaches, this essential oil has a strong analgesic (pain relieving) action. It, unlike peppermint, tastes horrible!

Something else you could use to treat canker sores is aloe vera juice. Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory as well as antibacterial properties, which makes it a soothing yet effective treatment for canker sores. This remedy can be found at most health food stores and is fairly inexpensive. (Use aloe juice not the gel, like you’d use for a sunburn.) Simply gargle (swish in your mouth) with the aloe, concentrating on getting the juice where your sores are. Try to keep swishing for 20 seconds or so, spit and repeat—two or three times, several times a day. If you work outside the home, take some aloe juice with you so you can swish during the day.

The Healing Properties of Aloe Vera

Another remedy I used as a child and sometimes still reach for today if a canker sore appears is Campho-phenique®. This is a “pain relieving antiseptic liquid” that can be found in any drug or grocery store. It contains 10.8% camphor and 4.7% phenol along with eucalyptus oil in a light mineral oil base. Although the package says it is for insect bites, scrapes, and minor burns, ever since I was a kid this is what I used on my canker sores. It tastes horrible (see ingredients), but it will numb the area as well as help the healing process. Use the same application technique that I recommend above for peppermint oil. Don’t get this or any product in your eyes; read the directions and warnings on the label.

Whatever treatment you decide to use, don’t forget to look to your diet and stress level to see if there are things you can do to help your body relax and defend against breakdown. Treating the symptom only does little to treat the system as a whole—your body.

A note of caution: If you have an oral lesion that you think is a canker sore but doesn’t heal after 2 weeks time, it could be a sign of trouble. Even left untreated, an inner-mouth canker sore will usually heal completely within that 2-week time frame. Please see your doctor if your supposed canker sore persists.

For more information, see:

• The Healing Properties of Aloe Vera
• Sugar & Skin Problems
• Stop Bugging Me!—Help for Bug Bites