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Skin Can't Handle Harsh Topicals? Research Says Aloe Vera Is A+ For Dark Spots

Alexandra Engler
Author:
September 14, 2024
Alexandra Engler
Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Director
By Alexandra Engler
Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Director
Alexandra Engler is the senior beauty and lifestyle director at mindbodygreen and host of the beauty podcast Clean Beauty School. Previously, she's held beauty roles at Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, SELF, and Cosmopolitan; her byline has appeared in Esquire, Sports Illustrated, and Allure.com.
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Image by ohlamour studio / Stocksy
September 14, 2024

When it comes to treating dark spots, the classics tend to be the best. Dermatologist-favorite ingredients, such as AHAs, vitamin C, and retinol, can help brighten skin and fade pigmentation concerns fairly effectively.

However, it must be noted that these two ingredients can be hard to tolerate. Many folks find them to be irritating on the skin and struggle to use them consistently. This is especially true of modern formulations, which tend to be fairly potent. 

So if you have sensitive skin, it can be a struggle to find products that help fade dark spots—without triggering more inflammation and irritation (which can, by the way, lead to dark spots worsening down the line).

However, there's another great classic ingredient that's often missing from the conversation that can not only help address age spots but is hydrating and anti-inflammatory.

Aloe vera, the wonder ingredient, has impressive research indicating it can help with dark spots. 

How aloe vera helps fade dark spots — without triggering inflammation

There's a reason aloe vera has become a beloved skin care ingredient it is. The botanical extract has a host of skin and hair benefits that range from hydration (it's a humectant) to anti-inflammatory (it also has antioxidant properties).

It's also an excellent dark spot corrector. This comes down to one of the compounds in the juice, aloesin. Aloesin has brightening capabilities that can help speed up this fading process. In one study, when aloe was applied to skin four times per day for two weeks, aloesin was shown to effectively fade post-acne hyperpigmentation1.

Another report showed that topical application of aloesin can directly inhibit hyperpigmented skin from producing more melanin—hyperpigmentation simply means excess melanin production in your skin, so keeping the pigment-producing cells from becoming overactive is key. 

Aloe can also act as a preventive tool, due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Dark spots are often the result of your skin cells producing more pigment as a reaction to damage in the skin.

Aloe contains several vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and amino acids to soothe angry skin. Much of the research points to aloin, a specific compound in the aloe plant that can promote overall skin healing2, as well as bradykinase—an enzyme that can help reduce excessive inflammation when applied topically3.

The takeaway

Many of the ingredients recommended for skin brightening are hard for many folks to tolerate. AHAs, vitamin C, and retinol all are known skin irritants, especially when used at too high a concentration.

If you know that these ingredients aren't suitable for your skin, aloe vera can be a useful ingredient to reach for. 

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