Think You Have An Aloe Vera Allergy? – Maybe Not! Find Out Here! 

does-aloe-vera-treat-eczema eczema-treatment

Think you might have an Aloe Vera Allergy? Allergies are not fun, and with aloe vera being a key ingredient in many skin care products you will want to be able to get to the bottom of what’s causing the problem as soon as possible. But what if you think you’ve found out the culprit and actually it’s something else?

The following article will address the solutions to your Aloe vera concerns, including:
what we mean by an ‘allergy’,
why Aloe is more of an anti-allergen,
that not all Aloe vera is the same,
what kind of Aloe vera is the best?,
beware of artificial preservatives,
‘take the test’*

*A section to see if you really do have an aloe vera allergy by signing up for a free sample of our aloe-rich Repair Lotion by filling in the form that appears when you scroll down the page.


Our Experience

Here at Odylique, we often come across people who think they’ve had allergic reaction to aloe vera in skin care, but it turns out that they’re not. – N.B. We can help you test this theory on yourself too! There are of course a few cases of people allergic to Aloe vera. It comes from the same plant family as garlic and onions, so if you are allergic to one, you may be sensitive to all. But it is a very rare allergy indeed. And even more unlikely you would only be allergic to one plant in the family.


So…What do we mean by an ‘Allergy’?

If you believe you are experiencing an allergic reaction to aloe vera in skin care you will perhaps be experiencing the following symptoms:

ITCHING OR BURNING SKIN RED PATCHES  LOCALISED SWELLING PEELING HIVES NAUSEA

These allergy symptoms do differ from the side effects of consuming Aloe vera juice internally, which may result in cramping and diarrhoea. But do remember – your symptoms might not stem from the Aloe at all!


Why Aloe is More of an Anti-Allergen

aloe vera in skincareAloe juice has been used in ancient times by the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans as a moisturiser, cell regenerator and healer, both internally and externally. The Chinese even referred to aloe as the elixir of youth, with it’s anti-aging properties.

Aloe vera’s power to seal wounded skin, protecting it from infection and helping moisture retention while the skin repairs itself, is well documented. The topical application of Aloe is beneficial for skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
For this reason it is a very popular in ‘natural’ cosmetics from toothpaste to commercial after-sun lotions and as a simple Aloe vera gel. We widely use it in Odylique products too, including in our Aloe vera shampoo.
This is due in no small part to the make-up of the plant itself. You can get a full explanation in our ingredients section here, but aloe’s succulent stems contain all 8 amino acids (which are the building blocks of proteins) and enzymes. These actually give aloe the ability to reduce the symptoms of allergy. In fact, a study (that can be read here), observed a 72-year-old woman suffering from dermatitis who used Aloe on her body to relieve herself from the pain she was experiencing, with effective results. They also note that patch tests produced positive reactions and that negative Aloe reactions are rare when manufacturers process Aloe avoiding potential irritants, which we do here at Odylique. The benefits of Aloe can far outweigh the risks.


Not All Aloe Vera Is The Same 

Like most things, there is Aloe vera and there is Aloe vera. There are over 300 species of the Aloe plant, all of which have different properties. But one particularly crucial aspect is how it is extracted, and another, is what else it is mixed with.


What Kind of Aloe Vera Is Best?

aloe-vera
Firstly the extraction process. It’s worth bearing in mind that organic Aloe vera is purer and probably safer, as it is produced without pesticides or harmful solvents. It also shouldn’t be processed with heat as this can destroy useful enzymes.
Aloe vera is not widely grown in Northern Europe. So the gel often gets dried to a concentrated powder, shipped and then reconstituted into juice where needed. But it needs to be freeze-dried – not spray-dried – to ensure it properly maintains all the valuable parts of the gel intact.
You can tell when the aloe juice has been extracted well – it should have a milky, pale yellow, slightly golden colour – either in its natural state or reconstituted form. Good juice is rich in minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium as well as vitamins A and C, B1, B6 and B12. An analysis of our Aloe vera juice shows that once reconstituted with pure water, it shares the same beneficial profile as the original juice it was concentrated from.
It’s also important to note that the benefits come from the inner juice of the leaf and in countries where it grows abundantly, a leaf is often snapped off and the clear gel applied directly to wounds and sunburns.
The aloe used in Odylique products is from the inner ‘fillet’ of fresh-picked organic aloe leaves using a patented process to retain all the valuable nutrients of the juice. If you’re using pure aloe from the plant, the juice needs to be used quickly (within 24 hrs) to avoid becoming a nutritious soup for microbes.


Beware of artificial preservatives

Something else to watch out for is how it is preserved.
The freeze-drying process I just mentioned has another important advantage for those with allergies and sensitive skin. It means that no preservation is required – synthetic preservatives often pose a problem for sensitive skin.
But of course, with Aloe vera in skincare and cosmetics, is usually incorporated with some kind of preservative has to be added to the cosmetic product itself. And that’s our hypothesis – that in the few cases where people are believed to have an allergy to Aloe vera, it’s not the Aloe vera they’re allergic to, but the other ingredients – like synthetic preservatives and fragrance.  We’ve had a number of cases over the years that have illustrated this.
So if you’ve been told Aloe vera is not for you, give it another chance. It might have been something else in the product that caused the problem. Make sure it’s pure, well extracted organic Aloe vera and test very small patches to be sure. Opting for certified organic skincare for sensitive skin is likely to be your safest bet.


Test it! 

You can sign up below for a sample of our Repair Lotion – made with pure organic Aloe vera – and no synthetic preservatives – for FREE! All you have to do is fill in the sign-up form below.
Once you have your sample follow these simple steps to assess whether you have an allergic reaction to aloe vera:
1.Spread a pea-sized amount of our repair lotion behind your ear (this particular area tends to reveal allergies quickly).

2.Keep the area uncovered and exposed to the air.

3.If you are allergic, you should begin to see side effects within an hour (to be completely sure, you can leave it on for 24 hours but keep in mind that allergies can show up within minutes!).

Let us know whether you have tried our patch test in the comments section below or any your experiences with Aloe vera in skincare. If you are still uncertain about trying Aloe Vera, we hold many products that could act as a great alternative, including Superfruit Concentrate and Rose Tonic.

If you know anyone who believes they have an allergy to Aloe, feel free to share this post and let them know – they could unnecessarily missing out on all of the wonderful benefits of Aloe vera!



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More Advice?

If you’d like any more advice on Aloe vera in skincare, please do email us – customercare@odylique.co.uk, add your question as a comment below, or call 01638 491022 – we’re here to help! Browse our range of organic moisturisers now.


5 thoughts on “Allergic to Aloe Vera in Skincare? Maybe Not! Find Out Here!”

  1. i tried the aloe vera plant on my face and my face swelled up, am i allergic?

    i really want to know, what lotions i can use, my skin gets like rask bumps, when i use any lotion, please let me know something that can help me.

    1. Hi there,
      I would recommend our Repair Lotion – it’s designed to help with itchy, irritated skin, so you might find this helps! You can try a sample of our Repair Lotion by entering your email address in the fly in on this page!

  2. hello, I am facing pimples on my face from 2 years, i have tried lots of medicines allopathy, ayurveda but no result found.. now from few days i am taking aloe vera and amla juice still they are increasing. 3 years ago i was suffering from allergy on face due to applying aloe veras wrongly on face. please suggest me, can i continue it or not?

    1. Hi there,
      I’m sorry to hear you’re suffering with an allergy. I would recommend that you try a sachet of our Repair Lotion (sign up in the fly-in box to the right, or email hayley@odylique.co.uk) and see how that goes. For pimples, try our Spot-On Serum – its antibacterial Tea Tree and Lavender oils make it great for blemishes!

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