Aloe vera made skin super tight for 2 weeks, did I ruin skin
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free skin care · Sat May 05, 2012 2:09 am

yingey wrote:

Hello! I would be so appreciate any advice! I used aloe vera on my face because of a sunburn and I think I didn't realize I needed to wash it off with soap and not just water. My face has been super tight for the last 2-3 weeks, I've been smiled less because it just felt so tight and uncomfortable. My skin looks dry and different since, I've started Borage oil to bring the vitality back, but I'm worried that I damaged my face while it was so tight, just by general life, eating, talking, etc., did I create extra slack in the tightening/untightening process? I feel like I look different, older, because my skin is not sitting on my face the same/interacting with my muscles. Please tell me this is only temporary and my skin will bounce back! Thank you so much! Btw, I have experienced amazing health benefits drinking aloe vera juice in the last week.

Take care
Y

I have this exact same problem with Aloe Vera gel. What I discovered is that it can react with sunscreen on some individuals leaving your skin feeling extremely tight, burnt and looking like crepe paper. Your skin does return to normal but only after you stop using Aloe Vera. My skin became extremely sore, red and started to peel as well as the top layer puckering in a really dramatic way that is quite scary. But it only ever happens when I used Aloe Vera gel the same day I've used chemical sunscreens.

You may be one of the 0.1% of people in the world with a sensitivity to aloe vera. Most people will not believe you can be allergic to it, because they are in the 99.9% of people who aren't.

free skin care · Wed May 30, 2012 12:44 am

flick24 wrote:

It says its organic aloe vera but after looking at the ingredients Aloe barbadenis leaf juice, Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Glyceryl caprylate, Sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, Aqua, Sodium phytate, sodium hydroxide

I'm not so sure guess I saw the organic and assumed it must be natural not sure what those other ingredients are but maybe they are the culprit.

I asked because your reaction rang a bell - I had an immediate redness (erythema) and burning to an organic cleanser last year. This was completely unlike any reaction I have ever had before (prone to contact dermatitis) and there were no lasting effects. Checking reviews for the product I was not alone so I did some reading and it turns out sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, benzoic acid or sodium benzoate can cause this in susceptible individuals. Shock

This is the product I reacted to
"Water, Olive fruit oil*, Glycerine*, Cetearyl olivate, Cetyl alcohol, Xanthan gum, Sorbitan olivate, Alcohol denat.*, Citric acid, Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate, Limonene, Fragrance*, Pelagorniu graveolens flower oil*, Citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) oil*"
I also checked my other skincare products to see if these specific preservatives were in anything else I currently own, nope. They are both also used as food preservatives.

My notes say page 567 but I can't access that any more - there are references to the erythema in other sections tho if you search the chemical names.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dQBAzfyCeQ8C

HTH! Confused

Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:14 pm

Okay, I am new here but this thread came up while doing a Google search on the water in Aloe Vera. I realize this thread is older and I may be too late. Anyhow, I work for a company that makes an aloe vera based cream formulated by a nurse that is sold as a moisturizer for the body including the face.

So I think I can answer to some concerns:

There are 400 species of Aloe Vera totally 2,200 types. The most potent is Aloe Barbandensis Miller. ( Miller being the botanist who named it and who believed it came from Barbados.) This is the kind of aloe used in many hospital burn units because it is the most potent as in having the most healing properties. For instance it has three natural analgesics and is naturally inflammatory among many other features.

Aloe Vera when used full strength works as an astringent. Astringents tend to shrink tissues or constrict body tissues. So the skin feels tight and a dry after use. I think this may have been what caused the tightening in drying as communicated by the first poster.

If one wants to use Aloe as a moisturizer the concentration has to be 80% strength and not over that amount. Again, this is based on information in my training working at this company.

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