Blisters Be Gone: The Healing Power of Aloe Vera

Healing Skin Blisters

Many cooks keep an Aloe Vera plant in a pot on the kitchen window for use when they touch a hot surface to their hand or arm. Before the skin can blister and become sore, the cook simply breaks off a tender end from an Aloe Vera spine, breaks it open, and rubs the soothing clear gel onto the skin. The Aloe Vera gel contains phytochemicals that immediately counteract the skin’s reaction to heat. Skin that has been burned reacts by filling the void between the epidermis and the dermis with serum, which is a component of the blood that remains after red blood cells and clotting agents have been removed by inner skin layers. The serum seeps into the pocket from surrounding areas as a reaction to any trauma experienced on the external skin layers.The skin’s reaction to extreme irritation is to blister in the immediate or surrounding area where the irritant is encountered. Even internal illness can result in skin blisters. Once the blister surfaces, the skin is susceptible to infection. Aloe Vera gel has disinfectant qualities that prevent infection when applied consistently until the blister is healed. Blisters are caused by sunburn, friction, irritation, or allergies.

• Sunburn – Immediately after exposure to the sun, topical Aloe Vera gel can be applied to the skin before sunburn becomes visible. When time elapses without application of Aloe Vera gel and blisters develop on the sunburned skin, the gel will protect the damaged skin from infection while the skin heals.
• Friction – Shoes cause more friction blisters than any other clothing article. Hand tools will cause blisters when gloves are not worn. After the development of friction blisters, the skin area should be treated with liberal amounts of Aloe Vera gel and then the area should be left uncovered for 15 to 30 minutes until the gel is absorbed.
• Irritation – Internal and external irritants can cause an area of the skin to blister. Healthy skin indicates internal health, but rashes and blisters that develop without a clear cause can be indicative of underlying health problems. Application of Aloe Vera gel to this type of blister will reduce irritation and prevent infection, but the real cause of the irritation must be addressed to facilitate healing.
• Allergies – Healthy skin will react adversely to agents that raise the histamine levels in the blood. If the skin is not treated quickly, blisters can result on the skin in response to contact with an allergen. After the blisters have developed and the allergen has been removed, the Aloe Vera gel will minimize itch and prevent infection while the skin heals. If the allergen remains present, the skin will not heal.

Beneficial Qualities of Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera gel has certain medicinal qualities that act as an additional barrier of protection against the microscopic organisms that can cause infection in the blistered skin. Enhancing the skin’s ability to heal starts with strengthening the cellular structure surrounding the blister and allow the skin to heal. Each of these qualities has been found in Aloe Vera gel that has retained its natural qualities.

• Astringent – Draws the body tissues together and prevents the flow of secretions. Aloe Vera gel aids in the skin’s ability to control excess serum secretions that can burst the blister.
• Emollient – Soothes the external skin layer, or epidermis, to reduce irritation. Aloe Vera gel reduces the physical irritation that will cause scratching which can tear the blister and open the skin.
• Antifungal – Prevents growth of fungus on the skin surface. Aloe Vera gel protects the area of the skin surrounding the blister from fungus that could further weaken the external skin layer.
• Antibacterial – Prohibits the growth of bacteria and kills any bacteria. Aloe Vera gel eliminates the bacteria present on the skin to prevent bacterial infection in or around the blister.
• Antiviral – Prevents development of a virus. Aloe Vera gel prevents the growth of viruses that could penetrate the skin and cause illness.

Cautions Concerning Aloe Vera for Blisters

As with any natural remedy, knowledge allows a person to make informed decisions concerning the use of a product that is recommended by a friend. Prior to applying Aloe Vera gel to a sensitive skin area, consider the following points:

• Allergy – Although most people can apply Aloe Vera gel from a plant directly to a skin blister, there are some people who experience a burning sensation. Other people report additional blister formation when applying natural Aloe Vera gel to the skin. These reactions are rare, but the gel should be tested on a small area of healthy skin prior to using the gel on an area of blistered skin.
• Open skin – When a blister is already open, the Aloe Vera gel should be applied only to the area surrounding the open skin. Avoid direct application of the Aloe Vera to any open skin.
• Sustained use – Monitor the number of days the Aloe Vera gel is used and cease to use the gel after 10 consecutive days. If the benefits from the gel would be beneficial to healing, use can be reinitiated after a five-day respite. Long-term use can create resistance to the beneficial qualities of the Aloe Vera gel.
• Strength varies – Very large Aloe Vera plant spines contain gel that has gained more strength as the plant grows tender spines toward the center of the plant. Use the gel from the newest tender spines from the plant for application to sensitive skin around blisters.

Whenever skin blisters occur, investigate the real cause of the skin reaction prior to applying Aloe Vera gel. If underlying health concerns may be the source, visit a physician for a professional diagnosis. While most blisters will heal with the aid of topically-applied Aloe Vera gel, some blisters can be an indication of illness.