You are what you eat, as the cliché goes, but TikTok’s creators want to show that this isn’t necessarily true. Aloe vera juice has received a lot of praise on the app from users who claim it improves intestinal health and clears skin. In fact, as of the time of this writing, films displaying the mixture have received about 1.7 billion views.
Bria Lemirande, a TikTok content creator, shared her aloe vera juice testimonial on March 14. This is just one of several aloe vera juice testimonials that have garnered popularity among TikTok users. Lemirande claims in the video that after taking a one-ounce shot of the liquid tonic twice day for a “week-and-a-half,” her complexion “cleared up a ton.” She continues by saying that since she started regularly consuming aloe vera juice, her gut health has “never been better.”
Drinking aloe juice, according to Lemirande, has “felt that it improved the texture of [her] skin and made it really dewy and glowing. In terms of intestinal health, I felt significantly less bloated after eating.”
But in terms of science, does consuming aloe vera juice genuinely lead to clearer skin and a happier gut? Some research have suggested that drinking aloe vera may help treat acne, but according to board-certified dermatologist Nikhil Dhingra, MD, in New York City, “they aren’t especially extensive studies and therefore their interpretation can’t be regarded as definite proof.”
However, Dr. Dhingra tells Allure that there are advantages to applying the herb topically. He continues, “Aloe vera has been utilized as a treatment for minor sunburns and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and healing qualities when administered externally.
Barry Goldman, MD, a different board-certified dermatologist, is unsure whether consuming aloe juice will reduce acne. Aloe vera juice may contain antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory [activities], according to Dr. Goldman, who notes that he is not aware of any research that investigate this association.
He continues, “There is no proof that drinking or eating other unsweetened unprocessed juices, fruits, and vegetables improves your skin more than drinking or eating aloe vera juice. The majority of the evidence is anecdotal, which means that it is supported by the experiences or beliefs of one or two individuals.
The study is also still scarce in regards to the advantages of aloe vera juice for your internal organs. Board-certified internist and gastroenterologist Nooshin Hosseini, MD, of New York City, states that according to the studies, “ingesting aloe vera orally may be effective for treating various gastrointestinal symptoms in the short term.”
The “purported advantages,” continues Dr. Hosseini, “include antacid, chemoprotective, and anti-inflammatory actions that may lessen discomfort associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer disease, ulcerative colitis, and different IBS symptoms.”
Dr. Hosseini notes that while certain studies have suggested that drinking aloe vera may help to alleviate some gastrointestinal problems, “there have been no big clinical trials to date that show a dependable benefit of aloe vera for long-term symptom relief or gastrointestinal health.” However, she does mention that both short-term and long-term usage of [aloe vera] is not without certain hazards.
According to Dr. Hosseini, excessive use of whole leaf aloe vera juice or aloe latex as a laxative can be hazardous both in the short term due to fluid shifts and electrolyte disturbances as well as have serious long-term effects, such as a potential link to colorectal cancer.
Therefore, Dr. Hosseini advises speaking with your doctor before including aloe vera juice into your daily regimen. Always be skeptical about what you see on TikTok.