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Aloe vera and acne rosacea
I am 35 and suffer from acne rosacea which has been controlled with antibiotics. A friend who sells Aloe Vera products swears these will help with this condition but I am not sure. Do you think this is a viable alternative.
Aloe vera is always promoted as one of those miracle cure-all herbs and while it does have some remarkable healing properties, those that are best documented are related to its ability to promote a healthy gut action and its action as an antimicrobial wound-healing agent.
It has been investigated for the treatment of acne and other skin disorders - but to date, there are no controlled clinical trials that I know of that prove its efficacy one way or the other.
That said, I would not rule out its usefulness in treating straightforward acne since, as well as being linked to hormonal problems and a bacterial infection, the condition, in adults, has also been associated with intestinal health. In one study, for example, 50% of patients with severe acne were found to have increased levels of blood toxins that had been absorbed from the gut. Also, the antibiotics you are taking will eventually disrupt your digestion if you take them for long enough, so you may want to consider taking a good probiotic powder, as well as your aloe vera juice.
A deficiency in hydrochloric acid, which helps break down food in the stomach, as been detected in those with the exact same skin condition as you (acne rosacea) and again, you can take this in supplement form. If, however, you feel a burning sensation in your stomach when you take this, stop until the gut has had more time to heal - a process which the aloe vera will definitely help with.