Aloe Vera: Potential Benefits, Known Risks, and More
Updated on July 1, 2025
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Aloe vera is a spiky succulent plant that for centuries has been used to treat skin conditions such as rashes, cuts, and sunburns. There are more than 400 species of aloe plant, but Aloe barbadensis Miller is most prized for its healing properties.
The gel and juice found inside the aloe vera plant is a popular herbal remedy, used both topically and internally to treat health conditions ranging from skin rashes to inflammatory bowel disease. It comes in gels, creams, oral supplements, and beverages. You can also apply the gel directly from the plant itself.
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8 Potential Health Benefits of Aloe Vera
Learn about the many benefits of aloe vera.
Potential Health Benefits of Aloe Vera
Researchers have extensively studied the use of aloe as a topical product and dietary supplement. Research shows aloe vera has several possible benefits, including easing the following health issues and conditions.
Acne
Topical aloe has a calming effect on the skin and may help ease itchiness and inflammation. You can apply creams or gels to affected skin areas, but don’t apply it directly to open acne blemishes.
Aloe also has antibacterial properties that promote wound healing, and it may pair well with other acne treatments. One study found that combining an aloe vera gel with ultrasound treatments led to significant improvements in patients dealing with moderate acne.
Sunburn
Aloe vera gel can help relieve the painful side effects of getting too much sun, such as redness, pain, and swelling, but it doesn’t cure the sunburn itself. Skin experts say topical aloe has no adverse effects for sunburn relief, and it can be combined with cool compresses and loose, breathable clothing and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin, to help with discomfort.
Stomach Troubles
Beyond the gel you’ve probably seen in drugstores, aloe vera comes in another form too: aloe latex. Found in the aloe leaf’s outer layer, the latex contains aloin, an organic compound that has laxative properties and may relieve constipation. It’s not clear if taking aloe orally can treat this condition, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a ruling that requires manufacturers to remove aloe latex from over-the-counter laxative products because of a lack of safety data.
Other research has found that aloe extract is safe and effective as a short-term oral treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.
Potential Risks and Side Effects of Aloe Vera
Aloe gel, the part of the plant that’s commonly found in creams and moisturizers, is generally safe to use topically and contains therapeutic properties for the skin. In some people, it can cause burning, itching, rash, eczema, or hives. Aloe vera beverages and other oral products are typically considered safe for short-term use, but aloe can cause abdominal pain, cramps, and diarrhea, and it has been related to hepatitis when people consume it long term.
Ingesting aloe latex, which comes from the leaf’s outer layer, can make other oral medications you’re taking less effective. Aloe latex can also cause short-term kidney failure when taken for more than a few days.
How to Select and Store Aloe Vera
Aloe vera products are widely available and may be stored at room temperature or refrigerated, depending on the product. For topical products, oral supplements, or beverages, follow the instructions on the individual product label about how it should be stored. If you’re using fresh aloe, it should be refrigerated in an airtight container.
To select a high-quality product, look for a seal from the International Aloe Science Council, which is an organization that’s been active since the 1980s. Their seal on a product means that the product’s aloe vera quality and purity have been tested and confirmed.
Dosage
Because many aloe products are topical, there isn’t a set dosage amount. If you’re taking it internally, either as a supplement or beverage, it’s best to do so in consultation with your primary care doctor, a registered dietitian nutritionist, or another healthcare provider.
The Takeaway
- Aloe vera has been used for centuries to help treat a variety of health problems, including acne, sunburns, and stomach problems.
- Aloe vera gel is generally considered safe to use, while aloe latex can lead to intestinal problems and kidney failure.
- Talk to your healthcare team if you plan to take aloe vera internally, such as via an oral supplement or beverage.
FAQ
What is aloe vera used for?
Aloe vera can be applied to the skin or taken orally, and it may help with health issues such as sunburns, acne, and stomach troubles.
Is it safe to drink aloe vera?
Possibly, but it’s best to consult your doctor first. If ingestible aloe vera gives you an upset stomach, cramps, or diarrhea, don’t continue to drink it.
Is it okay to use aloe vera every day?
Taking aloe vera topically is generally safe, but oral forms of aloe vera, including supplements and beverages, can be riskier, so it’s important to talk to your doctor before trying those forms.
Can I leave aloe vera on my face overnight?
Yes, you can. It may help ease inflamed, irritated, or sunburned skin. Choose a product that’s made primarily from aloe and doesn’t contain alcohol, since that can dry out your skin.
Can you use aloe vera straight from the plant?
Yes, you can use aloe vera topically straight from the plant. Simply break off the leaf and squeeze out the gel. Or you can find fresh aloe at health food stores and drugstores.
Resources We Trust
- Cleveland Clinic: The Benefits of Drinking Aloe Vera Juice
- Mayo Clinic: First Aid: Sunburn
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: Herbal Medicine
- The International Aloe Science Council: Aloe FAQs and Certified Products
- American Herbalists Guild: Herbal Medicine FAQs
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
- Kaur S et al. Aloe Barbadensis Miller (Aloe Vera). Vitamin and Nutrition Research. November 2, 2023.
- Aloe Vera. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. February 2025.
- Ahl LI et al. Leaf Gel From Several Aloe Species Shows Anti-Inflammatory Properties Through the Inhibition of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Mediated Activation of Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) Signaling. Phytomedicine Plus. February 2023.
- Zhong H et al. Efficacy of a New Non-Drug Acne Therapy: Aloe Vera Gel Combined With Ultrasound and Soft Mask for the Treatment of Mild to Severe Facial Acne. Frontiers in Medicine. May 20, 2021.
- Aloe Vera for Sunburns: Does It Help? Cleveland Clinic. September 15, 2022.
- Sunburn and Your Skin. Skin Cancer Foundation. March 2025.
- Aloe Vera. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. August 6, 2021.
- Ahluwalia B et al. Aloe Barbadensis Mill. Extract Improves Symptoms in IBS Patients With Diarrhoea: Post Hoc Analysis of Two Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Studies. Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology. October 8, 2021.
- Aloe. Mayo Clinic. March 27, 2025.
- Guo X et al. Aloe Vera: A Review of Toxicity and Adverse Clinical Effects. Journal of Environmental Science and Health. March 17, 2016.
- Ahlawat KS et al. Processing, Food Applications and Safety of Aloe Vera Products: A Review. Journal of Food Science and Technology. January 18, 2011.
- Certified Products. International Aloe Science Council.
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