Why Aloe Vera Works To Tame Sunburn
It is no mystery to me why Aloe Vera works to tame sunburn. After all, Aloe Vera has been known for centuries as the Burns Plant. It has also been called (among other sobriquets) ‘Miracle Plant', ‘Wand of Heaven' and ‘Immortality'.
Legend claims that Aristotle persuaded Alexander the Great to capture the island of Socotra to obtain its rich supply of the plant – and that Alexander then had his war wagons converted so that masses of fresh Aloe could go with him into battle.
Why? To help heal his wounded soldiers! Aristotle and Alexander certainly knew a thing or two – as did Cleopatra, who is reputed to have bathed in Aloe Vera for its moisturizing properties before charming Mark Anthony!
The ‘right' Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Miller) helps protect our skin from the aging and damaging effects of the sun.
I don't know about you, but I prefer my protection to come in the form of a safe and reliable sunscreen, squeezing it from a tube rather than a leaf. This is partly because I hate mutilating plants and partly because a tube is simpler and more convenient to keep nearby than an Aloe Vera plant.
The Aloe sunscreen I use blocks out UVA and UVB rays and, thanks to its silky-smooth waterproof formula, has an SPF of 30 even after I've spent 40 minutes in the water.
As well as protecting against sunburn, it protects against the wind, moisturizing the skin. I find that it enables me to tan safely and is great as an after-sun too.
But we're talking here about ‘taming' sunburn, which rather suggests acting after the event instead of before it …
So – after you forgot to use sunscreen (or the sun took you by surprise, as of course it sometimes does), your poor skin has become blistery and itchy! This has happened to me and I reached immediately for a soothing Aloe Vera spray, removing the need to touch my skin.
What bliss it was, to be soothed, cooled and moisturized and to feel my skin breathe a sigh of relief! Well, I might have imagined that last bit, but I was certainly relieved to feel the coolness after too much heat.
There's coolness too in an Aloe Vera Gelly that's essentially identical to the plant's inner leaf. This, as if freshly squeezed from a leaf, lubricates sensitive tissue safely and is absorbed quickly – calming irritated skin and helping reduce scar formation.
Well, I hope my version of why Aloe Vera works to tame sunburn has proved of use to you – and that you might choose its taming properties too!
Legend claims that Aristotle persuaded Alexander the Great to capture the island of Socotra to obtain its rich supply of the plant – and that Alexander then had his war wagons converted so that masses of fresh Aloe could go with him into battle.
Why? To help heal his wounded soldiers! Aristotle and Alexander certainly knew a thing or two – as did Cleopatra, who is reputed to have bathed in Aloe Vera for its moisturizing properties before charming Mark Anthony!
The ‘right' Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Miller) helps protect our skin from the aging and damaging effects of the sun.
I don't know about you, but I prefer my protection to come in the form of a safe and reliable sunscreen, squeezing it from a tube rather than a leaf. This is partly because I hate mutilating plants and partly because a tube is simpler and more convenient to keep nearby than an Aloe Vera plant.
The Aloe sunscreen I use blocks out UVA and UVB rays and, thanks to its silky-smooth waterproof formula, has an SPF of 30 even after I've spent 40 minutes in the water.
As well as protecting against sunburn, it protects against the wind, moisturizing the skin. I find that it enables me to tan safely and is great as an after-sun too.
But we're talking here about ‘taming' sunburn, which rather suggests acting after the event instead of before it …
So – after you forgot to use sunscreen (or the sun took you by surprise, as of course it sometimes does), your poor skin has become blistery and itchy! This has happened to me and I reached immediately for a soothing Aloe Vera spray, removing the need to touch my skin.
What bliss it was, to be soothed, cooled and moisturized and to feel my skin breathe a sigh of relief! Well, I might have imagined that last bit, but I was certainly relieved to feel the coolness after too much heat.
There's coolness too in an Aloe Vera Gelly that's essentially identical to the plant's inner leaf. This, as if freshly squeezed from a leaf, lubricates sensitive tissue safely and is absorbed quickly – calming irritated skin and helping reduce scar formation.
Well, I hope my version of why Aloe Vera works to tame sunburn has proved of use to you – and that you might choose its taming properties too!
