Aloe Vera to Soothe Sunburns.

Also called solar erythema, a sunburn is a first degree burn of the skin by the sun's UVB rays. This phenomenon generally occurs after a long exposure without sun protection. However, some people with sensitive and/or fair skin, therefore poor in melanin, may experience a sunburn just after a short exposure of only a few minutes. Sunburns are characterized by redness, sometimes severe pain and itching. In the most severe cases, blisters may even appear.
During exposure, to protect the skin, melanocytes produce melanin (the pigment that gives the skin its brown color) which migrates to the surface of the skin and colors it: this is called tanning. If the exposure is too long and/or the UVB rays are too intense, the tan gives way to a sunburn. According to a study published only ten years ago, the biological process that takes place when a sunburn occurs is inflammatory. UVB rays from the sun damage microRNAs which, once released into the extracellular environment, stimulate pro-inflammatory cytokines. A chain reaction then generates a sunburn on the surface of the skin.

From the Liliaceae family, aloe vera or Aloe barbadensis has prickly leaves with a leathery appearance. These contain a transparent gelatinous pulp, which is edible once the aloin-rich latex that surrounds it has been removed. The extraction of this pulp provides the famous aloe vera gel. This one is colorless and of viscous texture. It contains no less than a hundred active substances, nutrients and other components (polysaccharides, vitamins, trace elements, enzymes and amino acids). In cosmetics, this natural compound is an excellent multifunctional active ingredient known for its moisturizing, repairing and soothing properties.