Aloe vera

Aloe vera gel has moderate evidence for helping minor burns heal, but little good evidence for sunburn, and the evidence for drinking aloe vera is limited. The bigger point for oral products is which part of the leaf they contain: the latex is a stimulant laxative with safety concerns, while the clear inner gel is a different material.

What is aloe vera?

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) is a succulent whose leaf contains two materials that behave differently:

  • Inner-leaf gel: the clear, jelly-like tissue used in skin gels and in most aloe drinks.
  • Latex: the yellow sap just beneath the rind. It contains hydroxyanthracene compounds such as aloin, which act as a stimulant laxative.

Many claims about aloe blur the two. Whole-leaf products can contain latex compounds unless they are processed to remove them.

Does aloe vera work?

Minor burns (applied to the skin)

Evidence: Moderate.

Meta-analyses of randomised trials find that aloe vera gel is associated with faster healing of superficial and partial-thickness burns than comparison treatments. A 2022 meta-analysis put the difference at about 3.8 days for superficial partial-thickness burns, without an increase in infection. The trials are few, small and varied in quality, so the findings should be treated with caution. Larger or deeper burns need medical assessment rather than home treatment.

Sunburn

Evidence: Insufficient.

There is little good trial evidence that aloe vera speeds recovery from sunburn, and small studies have found no benefit over placebo. Aloe gel feels cooling, but that has not been shown to be specific to aloe.

Irritable bowel syndrome (drunk or taken by mouth)

Evidence: Limited.

Pooled analyses of a small number of trials (one covering three trials and 151 people) found improved IBS symptom scores compared with placebo. The trials were short, small and used different products, so the results are not firm.

Blood sugar

Evidence: Limited.

Meta-analyses of small, varied trials in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes report lower fasting glucose and HbA1c with oral aloe. The quality and consistency of those trials limit what can be concluded, and aloe is not a substitute for diabetes treatment.

Anti-ageing, wrinkles, hair growth and acne

Evidence: Insufficient.

No reliable human trial evidence supports these uses.

Dr Organic Aloe Vera Gel 200ml Aloe Pura Aloe Vera Cranberry Juice 500ml

Safety of oral aloe

  • Latex and whole-leaf products. Aloin and related compounds cause cramps, diarrhoea and, with continued use, fluid and electrolyte disturbance. EFSA concluded in 2018 that hydroxyanthracene derivatives should be regarded as genotoxic and carcinogenic unless specific data show otherwise, and it raised a safety concern about extracts containing them. Herbal guidance advises against using anthraquinone laxatives for more than one to two weeks.
  • Liver. Cases of acute hepatitis have been reported with oral aloe leaf extracts.
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Oral aloe may be unsafe and is best avoided.
  • Skin. Allergic reactions to aloe gel applied to the skin are uncommon but occur.
  • Regulation. In the UK, aloe vera juices are sold as food supplements and are not licensed as medicines for any condition.

Alessandro Grenci, Superintendent Pharmacist at Medino:

"On a label, 'aloe vera' can mean quite different things. Products described as inner-leaf or decolourised gel are not the same as whole-leaf or latex products, and a laxative effect is a sign a product contains more than the gel. Potassium loss from laxatives can matter for people taking diuretics or heart medicines such as digoxin, so ask a pharmacist before using an oral product alongside them."

Is aloe vera worth using?

Aloe gel on a minor burn has moderate supporting evidence, though the trials are small. For sunburn, the benefit is unproven. Drinking aloe for IBS or blood sugar rests on limited evidence, and the safety concerns attached to latex-containing products mean the type of product matters more than the claimed benefit. A pharmacist or GP can advise on persistent bowel symptoms, blood sugar concerns or burns beyond a small area.

Sources

  • Psyllium husks - a fibre used for constipation and IBS, with clearer guidance behind it.
  • Chlorophyll - another plant-derived product marketed for digestion and skin.
  • Vitamin E - often paired with aloe in skin products.
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