With its cooling, soothing properties, aloe vera gel is a popular home remedy for minor skin irritations and burns. Derived from the juicy leaves of the aloe plant, aloe vera has been used topically for centuries to promote skin health. This has many parents wondering: can I use aloe vera on my baby’s delicate skin?
The answer is yes, aloe vera can be safely used on babies when properly sourced and applied. Read on to learn more about using aloe for common baby skin issues, how to choose aloe products, and proper application guidelines.
Is Aloe Vera Safe for Babies?
When used topically, pure aloe vera gel is considered gentle and non-toxic for babies The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved aloe as a natural skin protectant, meaning it is generally recognized as safe
Both the gel from the aloe plant and aloe-based skin care products are safe options Just be sure to use products specifically formulated for babies or children,
It’s critical to only apply aloe vera topically and avoid oral ingestion. Consuming aloe latex found in the plant’s rind can cause gastrointestinal upset. Only use pure inner aloe vera gel.
Benefits of Aloe Vera for Baby’s Skin
What makes aloe vera so soothing for children’s sensitive skin? The clear gel contains the active compounds aloin and aloe-emodin which have the following properties
- Anti-inflammatory – Reduces swelling, redness, and irritation
- Antimicrobial – Inhibits bacteria, viruses, and fungi
- Vulnerary – Promotes wound healing and regeneration
- Moisturizing – Hydrates and softens skin
This makes aloe vera helpful for treating and preventing many common skin conditions in babies, including:
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Diaper rash: Soothes inflamed skin and provides a protective moisture barrier.
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Dry, flaky skin: The gel’s water content hydrates while the emollients soften.
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Eczema: Calms red, itchy outbreaks thanks to the anti-inflammatory action.
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Cradle cap: Helps loosen dry scalp skin when gently massaged into patches.
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Sunburn: Instantly cools, reduces pain, redness, and later peeling from minor sunburns.
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Insect bites and stings: Anti-inflammatory compounds reduce swelling, pain, and itching.
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Cuts, scrapes: Seals the wound and promotes faster healing with the mucilaginous gel.
So whether your baby has irritated skin from drool rash or is teething, aloe vera can provide soothing relief and speed up healing.
Choosing Aloe Vera Gel or Lotion for Baby
When selecting an aloe product for your child, read labels closely. Look for:
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100% aloe vera inner leaf gel – Avoid added “fillers” like thickeners or colorants.
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Fragrance-free – Babies’ skin is sensitive to fragrances which can cause reactions.
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Preservative-free – Harsh chemicals like parabens can irritate skin.
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Organic – Choose a plant-derived, eco-friendly formula for peace of mind.
For babies under 6 months, an aloe lotion may be preferred over a sticky gel. Or select a soothing diaper rash cream with aloe as an ingredient.
If using pure aloe gel from a home plant, be sure the leaves are pesticide-free. Carefully wash the outer rind before filleting the leaf for the clear inner gel.
How to Apply Aloe Vera Gel on Babies
When using aloe vera on your baby’s skin, follow these tips:
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Do a small test patch first, especially if baby has sensitive skin.
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For young infants, dilute pure aloe gel with a few drops of water to reduce strength.
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Apply a very thin layer of gel to avoid over-hydrating the skin.
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Don’t put on open wounds or broken skin to avoid stinging.
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Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes which can be irritated.
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Reapply 2-3 times per day or as needed for soothing relief.
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Store gel in the fridge between uses to prevent spoilage.
While aloe vera is very safe, always consult your pediatrician before using any new botanicals or home remedies. Watch for signs of redness, swelling, or rash that could indicate an allergy.
Most babies tolerate pure, natural aloe vera gel very well. Follow safe sourcing and usage guidelines for happy skin!
6 Tips for Using Aloe Vera on Your Baby’s Skin
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Choose 100% pure inner leaf aloe vera gels and lotions designed for babies.
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Look for organic, fragrance-free formulas without harsh additives.
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Use aloe vera to relieve diaper rash, eczema, cradle cap, and other skin irritation.
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Test apply on a small patch of skin first to check for allergies.
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Gently smooth a thin layer of aloe gel onto affected areas up to 3 times daily.
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Avoid using aloe vera gel on open wounds, mucous membranes, or eyes.
What About Giving Aloe Vera to Babies Internally?
While topical aloe vera is well tolerated, ingesting the gel or latex can be dangerous for infants and children. Consuming aloe should be avoided due to:
- Risk of vomiting and diarrhea from the laxative effects.
- Abdominal cramping, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances.
- Potential toxic effects on kidneys and liver with repeated use.
The FDA requires warning labels on oral aloe vera products for these reasons. Breastfeeding mothers should also avoid consuming aloe supplements to prevent exposure through breastmilk.
For treating constipation, talk to your pediatrician about safe and gentle remedies for your baby. There are many other options besides using aloe vera internally.
So stick to external uses of aloe vera gel only when caring for your precious little one! Handled properly, aloe can be a parent’s best friend when it comes to soothing many common skin woes.
Neha Gupta1Postgraduate Student, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Jaipur Dental College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, IndiaFind articles by
Received 2010 Jan 4; Accepted 2010 Feb 3; Issue date 2010 May-Aug. Copyright © 2010; Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
1The plant Aloe-Barbadensis Mill (Liliaceae) is used in traditional medicine in Mexico and other places to treat inflammation and make people look better (Diez-Martinez 1981; Grindlay and Reynolds 1986). The fresh leaves of Aloe-Barbadensis contain two different substances: an exudate, a bitter yellow juice that drains from the transversally cut leaves and is used as a laxative (Ishii et al. 1990); and a mucilaginous gel from the leaf parenchyma, which has been used to treat a number of illnesses, including arthritis, gout, acne, dermatitis, burns, and peptic ulcers caused by changes in the epithelium (Cap-passo and Ganginella 1997; Reynolds and Dweek 1999).
The point of this study is to find out how well Aloe-Vera gel works as a wound healer in a pulpotomy endodontic procedure. Fifteen primary molars were treated for pulpotomy using ‘Aloe-Vera gel’. Patients were recalled after 1 month to check for any clinical symptoms. None of the patients reported pain, swelling, or abscesses, and a histopathological examination done two months after the extraction showed that the body was healing.
Keywords: Aloe-Vera gel, deciduous teeth, pulpotomy, histopathological sections.
Keeping the primary teeth in good shape until they fall out naturally is important for the child’s development and maturation, as well as for the facioskeletal complex to grow to its full potential and for good occlusion with good aesthetic qualities. So, primary teeth with problems in the pulp and periapical area should be treated with endodontic therapy, which depends on getting rid of or reducing bacteria in the root canals. 2: A lot of different materials have been tried as pulp therapy agents in baby teeth, and each one has its own pros and cons.
Anything that comes from nature is a gift from God, so natural products are always appealing to everyone. Use of such products is increasing in fields of dentistry. Aloe-Vera is one of these products that we used in our study as an endodontic procedure agent for children who had a “pulpotomy.”
Twenty-five children who visited OPD of Department of Pedodontics, Jaipur Dental College, were selected for the study. Out of 25 screened patients, 15 were finalized for the study. The kids were picked based on having at least one broken primary molar that needed a pulpotomy and being healthy.
The following are the inclusion criterias for the study3 (Fig. 1).
Preoperative radiograph in relation to 74
- Tooth should be vital with healthy periodontium.
- Pain if present should neither be spontaneous nor persistent.
- Tooth should be restorable.
- Tooth should possess at least 2/3rd of the root length.
- The bleeding from the amputation site should be light red and easy to stop.
- Children who were to go for serial extraction procedure.
- Patients shouldn’t take antibiotics at least one week before their treatment.
The following were the exclusion criterias for the study.3
- Evidences of internal resorption.
- Presence of any interradicular bone loss.
- Existence of abscess or fistula in relation to the tooth.
- Radiographic signs of calcific globules seen in pulp chamber.
- Caries penetrating floor of pulp chamber.
- Tooth close to natural exfoliation.
Under ideal conditions of sterilization and isolation with a rubber dam, the chosen tooth’s access cavity was opened (Fig. 2). The usual tools used in a pulpotomy procedure were used, along with freshly made aloe vera gel (Figs. 3 and 4). Then coronal pulp was removed using spoon-excavator and the sample is sent for histopathological examination. The pulp chamber was cleaned properly with normal saline, followed by hemostasis with wet cotton pellets. Then Aloe-Vera gel loaded in syringe was placed over each root stump (Fig. 5). After this, a temporary filling material with noneugenol was put in place called provipast. Finally, ketac molar GIC was used to fill the cavity completely (Fig. 6). The patient was then called back after 30 days to check for any pain, swelling, or abscesses, and finally after 60 days to make sure the teeth were still healthy.
Access cavity opening for pulpotomy in relation to 74
Armamentarium used for pulpotomy
Aloe-Vera gel used for pulpotomy
Placement of Aloe-Vera gel over pulp stumps
Postoperative radiograph in relation to 74
Extractions of all the teeth were done after taking consent from parents. Each tooth that was taken out was put in a container with formalin and sent to the department of oral pathology for a histopathological examination. Space maintainer if required was given for the teeth which were extracted.
Acid was used to remove the calcium from the tooth samples, and the samples were washed under running water for several hours. The sample was then processed by routine tissue processing methods and embedded in paraffin wax block. Three to four μm thick slices were cut out and stained using the standard H and E method. The stained sections were mounted by cover slips using DPX and were observed under light microscopy.
There were no signs of abscesses, pain, or mobility in any of the teeth that had pulpotomies two months after the procedure was done.
In the decalcified parts of the extracted teeth, the radicular pulp was still whole. It had blood vessels, a thin layer of fibro-cellular connective tissue, a few chronic inflammatory cells, and RBCs that had spread out.
Coronal pulp under 10X magnification showed presence of neutrophils (Fig. 7).
Coronal pulp (H & E staining 10X)
Cross-section of root canal under 4X magnification shows pulp tissue enclosed by root dentine (Fig. 8).
Root canal containing pulp tissue enclosed by root dentine (H & E staining 4X)
Under 10X magnification, a cross-section of the root canal shows vital pulp tissue with blood vessels surrounded by root dentine (Fig. 9).
Root canal containing vital pulp tissue enclosed by root dentine (H & E staining 10X)
Under 40X magnification, a cross-section of the root canal shows the vital pulp tissue, which is made up of blood vessels, the odonto-blastic layer, fibroblasts, and RBSs that have spread out (Fig. 10).
Root canal containing vital pulp tissue (H & E staining 40X)
Aloe-Vera is native to Africa known by names lily of desert, plant of immortality or medicine plant. 4 It is a very well grown plant in Rajasthan.
Plant is 99.5% water and remaining is active ingredients including essential oils, amino-acids, minerals, enzymes, and glycoprotein’s.5
Chemical Composition of Aloe-Vera6,7
- Barbaloin, Isobarbaloin, Emodin, Anthanol, Chrysophanic acid, Aloetic acid, Etheral oil, Anthracine, and Resistannol are some of the antraquinones.
- Saccharides―Cellulose, Glucose, Mannose, L-rham-nose, Aldopentose, Acemannan.
- Enzymes―Oxidase, Amylase, Catalase, Lipase, Alkaline Phosphatase.
- Folic acid, β-carotene, vitamins B1, B2, and B6, choline, and vitamins C and tocopherol
- Inorganic―Ca, Na, Cl, Mn, Mg, Zn, Cu, Cr, Potassium sorbate.
- Essential amino acid―Lysine, Threonine, Valine, Me-thionine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine.
- The amino acids histidine, arginine, hydroxoxyproline, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline, glycerine, Alanine, and thyrosine are not necessary for life.
- Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Steroids, α sitosterol, Lignins, Steroids, Uric acid, Gibberel-lin, Lectin-like substances, Salicylic acid, and Mannose-6-phosphate are some of the other things that are discussed.
Since the 1930s, a lot of research has shown that clear gel can heal wounds, ulcers, and burns very quickly by covering the wounds in a protective layer and helping them heal. 8.
Aloe Vera Care Guide! // Garden Answer
FAQ
Can you use aloe vera gel on a baby?
Does aloe vera help baby burn?
What age can use aloe vera soothing gel?
Can you put aloe on a baby for sunburn?
Is aloe vera safe for babies?
Babies have extremely sensitive and delicate skin that can react badly to the smallest disturbance. In this article, we discuss the safety of aloe vera for babies. Babies do face skin problems such as rashes, mosquito bites, itching, and irritation. Their skin is too sensitive to take medicated ointments. In such cases, aloe vera can be a blessing.
Can babies use avocado oil?
For topical use, to massage, yes it can be used. But for ingestion, it is not recommended. Breast milk should only be given until 6 months of age.
Can babies eat aloe vera juice?
Avoid giving aloe vera juice to babies, as oral consumption can be harmful for them. Speak to your doctor before you begin using aloe vera orally. Nursing mothers should also avoid consuming aloe vera juice orally, as your little one can easily ingest some of it through breast milk.
Is aloe vera a good moisturizer for babies?
Aloe vera is often considered a natural or organic moisturizer. Massaging babies a couple of times a day with aloe vera gel helps keep your baby’s skin hydrated and supple. Avoid applying the gel on the face since it may lead to accidental ingestion .
Can you put aloe vera on a baby Nappy?
Apply the aloe gel to your baby’s clean bottom and let it dry before putting on a nappy. However, it’s best to let your baby’s bum enjoy some soothing aloe vera and fresh air, as these two elements will allow the nappy rash to heal more quickly.
Why is aloe vera gel good for babies?
Water is the main ingredient in Aloe Vera Gel. The hydrating properties of Aloe Vera help retain infant skin’s moisture. Also, applying aloe over the baby’s skin allows the skin to breathe. The soothing and healing properties of Aloe Vera act as a shield between your infant’s skin and harmful elements they could possibly come in contact with. 3.