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Aloe vera lotion has many benefits for skin health and appearance due to its moisturizing, healing, soothing, and anti-aging properties. For men of color, whose melanated skin is prone to specific issues, aloe vera can significantly improve and uniquely target your personal care routine; we’ll recommend a standout line of grooming products to help you look and feel your best.

Aloe vera is a short-stemmed, cactus-like plant. Its triangular succulent leaves contain a gel that can offer a multitude of therapeutic benefits for your skin. It is often called the “wonder plant,” and was known as the “plant of immortality” in ancient Egypt. Aloe vera gel is considered safe when appropriately applied to the skin, but can the claims concerning aloe vera’s traditional curative qualities be substantiated?

We’ll examine five of the most popular claims made about aloe vera to investigate their validity and recommend a brand that includes this plant in its high-quality grooming products.

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5 Great Benefits of Aloe Vera Lotion is an original (HealthXWire) article.

1. Aloe vera lotion for natural moisturizing

Research confirms that aloe vera can help to keep your skin clear and well-hydrated. This may be explained by aloe vera’s ability to grow in dry, unstable desert climates. The leaves of the aloe vera store water, helping the plant to survive the harshest growing conditions. Furthermore, the gel produced in the leaves contains minerals and fiber-rich complex carbohydrates, making it an effective facial moisturizer. Unlike petroleum-based creams and lotions, aloe vera lotion is not greasy and will not clog your pores.

2. Aloe vera lotion for healing and soothing

There is evidence that aloe vera gel is highly suitable for wound dressings and “can promote the healing of burn wounds better than petroleum jelly gauze or silver sulfadiazine 1% ointment.”Additionally, a review of 23 clinical trials concluded that aloe vera gel may improve wound healing and reduce post-operative and chronic wound pain:

• Laboratory studies find that aloe vera gel accelerates new skin cell growth, strengthening fibroblasts and protective keratinocytes.
• Aloe vera lotion contains anthraquinones, compounds that actively heal and reduce pain through natural anti-inflammatory effects.
• Clinical research suggests that the topical application of aloe vera lotion may speed burn healing and reduce pain from burns.

3. Aloe vera lotion for skin disorders

Aloe vera extract can effectively treat various skin conditions due to its natural active compounds. These help to safely bring your skin back to its normal state with the use of any harsh chemicals:

• Acne. Research suggests that the combination of aloe vera lotion with the topical acne medicine tretinoin (Retin-A, Atralin) may be more effective in reducing acne than the topical prescription alone.
• Psoriasis. Aloe extract cream can help to reduce the redness, scaling, itching, and inflammation caused by mild to moderate psoriasis. An aloe extract lotion can be used alone or in addition to medication.
• Herpes simplex virus. Applying a cream or lotion containing aloe vera extract may help lesions to heal sooner with less scarring and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

4. Aloe vera lotion for anti-aging

Most of the skin changes that occur as we age are accelerated by sun exposure. Research confirms that aloe vera gel increases skin cell turnover. Additionally, it contains antioxidants and UV-protective compounds that can prevent long-term skin photoaging, which is “skin damage caused by prolonged exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.” Furthermore, some studies show a significant reduction in facial wrinkles and dryness after just eight weeks of daily applications of aloe vera lotion.

5. Aloe vera lotion as an antioxidant and antimicrobial

A team of scientists at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, conducted a study of aloe vera leaf and flower extracts to measure their beneficial effects on human health. Their focus was on aloe vera’s possible antioxidant and anti-mycoplasmic (destroys antibiotic-resistant bacteria) properties. They confirmed that aloe vera flower and leaf extracts had antioxidant and anti-mycoplasmic properties. Furthermore, aloe vera contains the antioxidant vitamins A, B12, C, and E, as well as folic acid and choline.

Frederick Benjamin’s Hydro-Glaze Cooling Aloe Shave Gel

Our search concerning products that incorporate aloe vera led us to Frederick Benjamin, a young and growing company that specializes in hair care and shaving treatments formulated for men of color. The founder Michael James named his company to honor his grandfather, Frederick Benjamin, who inspired his entrepreneurial spirit. Michael James explains, “We’re here to disrupt the industry standard for men of color; our goal is to groom the men who will groom the men of tomorrow.”

Frederick Benjamin’s scientific research team has discovered how the therapeutic powers of aloe vera lotion can help to treat the skin issues commonly experienced by men of color, such as in-grown hair and razor bumps. Their Hydro-Glaze Cooling Aloe Shave Gel isa “clear-to-low foam, ultra-hydrating protective gel infused with aloe vera lotion that hydrates and soothes irritated skin from razor burn.” Aloe vera’s antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties boost healing while moisturizing the face or scalp during the shave. The gel also contains witch hazel, which helps to cleanse the skin and soothe inflammation.

The Hydro-Glaze Cooling Aloe Shave Gel is formulated to allow your razor to “glide over those targeted areas for a pain-free and precise shave.” With an “uplifting citrus scent,” this product is designed to satisfy the consumer during and after the shaving process.

Frederick Benjamin products are featured at Target, Walmart, and select barber shops, and are also available through the company’s website.

Protecting and healing your skin naturally

While aloe vera can benefit all skin types, this ancient plant extract may be especially helpful to men of color, who experience unique skin issues. Aloe vera can help to address these concerns with its moisturizing, antimicrobial, healing, and soothing properties. Incorporating products that utilize aloe vera into your daily routine can be a safe and effective way to achieve healthy skin.

Further Reading for Additional Knowledge:

National Institutes of Health: Aloe Vera: What Have We Learned?

American Academy of Dermatology Association: Razor bump remedies for men with darker skin tones

NBC News: Best 17 skincare products for dark skin, according to dermatologists

Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.

Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.