Aloe vera: Does it treat facial wrinkles?

Aloe vera is a type of cactus used to treat various ailments. It has a long history of providing health benefits and is one of the most commonly used herbal remedies. Available as a dietary supplement and applied to the skin.

Two liquids are produced from aloe vera. One is the gel, a clear mucous fluid that contains over 99% water and is taken from the heart of the plant’s leaves. The other is latex, a thick, yellow juice with a bitter taste that comes out when we cut the leaf. The gel is the safest part of the plant, which we can drink and use on our skin while latex has laxative properties.

Many people use the plant to heal skin wounds. Also, thanks to its healing and moisturizing properties, aloe vera is widely used as an ingredient in a variety of skin care products. Some studies have shown that drinking aloe vera can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines (early signs of wrinkle formation).

Skin aging is attributed to intrinsic (chronological) aging and photoaging (exogenous aging from repeated exposure to ultraviolet sunlight).

The change in collagen, which is the main structural component of the skin, has been considered as a major cause of both chronological skin aging and photoaging. With age – after 40 and especially after menopause – there is a decrease in collagen and increased secretion of certain degradation enzymes called maternal metalloproteinases (MMP: matrix metalloproteinases) extracellular metalloproteinases.

Ultraviolet radiation causes photoaging by creating oxygen free radicals which then trigger a series of processes by increasing MMP enzymes. Due to ultraviolet radiation, a protein called AP-1 is activated which leads the MMP enzymes to break down collagen. This gradually results in the appearance of wrinkles on the skin.

Can aloe vera reduce wrinkles?

Drinking aloe

There is evidence that oral aloe can have anti-wrinkle effects.

In a 2009 study published in the Annals of Dermatology, Korean scientists measured the wrinkles and skin elasticity of 30 healthy women over the age of 49. The women received aloe vera gel orally for 90 days. Half received a low dose of 1,200 mg per day and the other half received a high dose of 3,600 mg per day. The researchers took biopsies before and after the intervention. Wrinkles, elasticity and collagen production were found to improve in both groups while the production of degrading enzymes MMP was reduced.

Facial elasticity, measured with an optical device – as well as wrinkles – improved in both groups but only in the lower dose group the result was statistically significant [1]. Note that aloe vera gel contains polysaccharides, amino acids, lipids, plant sterols, tannins and enzymes.

This was the first clinical study to determine the effects of aloe on facial wrinkles and elasticity. The researchers said the effect was not affected by the dosage and that the reduction in facial wrinkles was due to an increase in type I procollagen. They also said that the mechanism by which aloe vera exerts its anti-aging effects is unknown. Its therapeutic effect has been studied mainly in wound healing. When injured diabetic rats are treated orally and topically with gel, increased collagen formation is observed.

Another study, this time in Japan, in 2015, also looked at the effect of drinking aloe vera. There were 54 women with dry skin, aged 20 to 50 years. Half were taking aloe vera every day and the other half were taking a placebo for eight weeks. In women taking aloe, the appearance of facial wrinkles improved.

The researchers believe that this effect is due to the plant sterols of aloe vera, cycloartenol and lophenol. These sterols, consumed in very small amounts, about 40 μg, promote the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid.

Collagen and hyaluronic acid are produced by skin cells called fibroblasts and are a major source of extracellular components. Therefore, culturing dermal human fibroblasts was used by researchers along with aloe plant sterols to determine whether collagen and hyaluronic acid production was stimulated. After 48 hours of co-culture, it was observed that the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid increased by 2 and 1.5 times respectively. The researchers concluded that it was this effect that made the wrinkles less noticeable.

However, this does not mean that aloe vera eliminates wrinkles, only that it makes them less visible by improving the texture of the skin. The result is not simply due to facial hydration as it increased in both comparative study groups.

Note that no side effects were observed in either of the above two studies. In some cases, ingestion of aloe has been associated with diarrhea, hypokalemia, phototoxicity and hypersensitivity reactions.

Application on the skin

Aloe vera grows in desert areas around the world and is well known for its healing properties. It is believed that using a small amount on the face can help treat various skin conditions such as acne, eczema and sunburn.

Aloe vera gel is rich in vitamins A, C, E and B12. Applying to the face may help produce and release collagen, protect the skin and treat infections. However, more research is needed to determine if dermal application has similar effects to oral aloe.

In general, the use of aloe vera on the face has benefits because its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce swelling and pain due to injuries. It can speed up wound healing time, reduce scarring and reduce the healing time of first and second degree burns. It is effective in the treatment of fungal and bacterial infections and has antioxidant activity, which may slow down the aging process of the skin.

Applying aloe vera gel to the face is not associated with serious health risks. Its use is generally considered safe. However, some people may experience a burning sensation after use on dry or sensitive skin. Also, some people may have an allergic reaction (contact dermatitis). Always do a small test first to check for sensitivity on the face before use.

At Vita4you.gr you will find a wide variety of products with aloe!

References

1. Dietary Aloe Vera Supplementation Improves Facial Wrinkles and Elasticity and It Increases the Type I Procollagen Gene Expression in Human Skin in vivo.
2. Effects of plant sterols derived from Aloe vera gel on human dermal fibroblasts in vitro and on skin condition in Japanese women.
3. Aloe vera: A review of toxicity and adverse clinical effects.