Text from keratin.com
Aloe vera. Known for its soothing anti-inflammatory properties topical aloe vera cream and aloe vera in solution for oral intake has been used by some with alopecia areata in an attempt to reduce or remove the hair follicle inflammation. A quick look in the medical journal database for articles on aloe vera suggests that this plant extract contains a complex set of chemicals with the ability to suppress AND stimulate the immune system in a number of ways. There are reports on clinical trials, of varying quality, suggesting aloe vera may have a positive effect in wound healing, immune stimulation, anti-cancer and anti-viral effects. There is also a recent report on its use in psoriasis treatment. It doesn't look like we know much on how it works but aloe vera does induce nitric oxide production, probably from macrophages, and aloe vera contains superoxide dismutases. Both these substances have been implicated as possible simulators of hair growth in androgenetic alopecia. Aloe vera contains a potential anti-inflammatory mannose-6-phosphate. It contains acemannan which apparently stimulates macrophages to produce cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha, and acts as an antiviral by stimulating T cytotoxic cells.
Aloe vera. Known for its soothing anti-inflammatory properties topical aloe vera cream and aloe vera in solution for oral intake has been used by some with alopecia areata in an attempt to reduce or remove the hair follicle inflammation. A quick look in the medical journal database for articles on aloe vera suggests that this plant extract contains a complex set of chemicals with the ability to suppress AND stimulate the immune system in a number of ways. There are reports on clinical trials, of varying quality, suggesting aloe vera may have a positive effect in wound healing, immune stimulation, anti-cancer and anti-viral effects. There is also a recent report on its use in psoriasis treatment. It doesn't look like we know much on how it works but aloe vera does induce nitric oxide production, probably from macrophages, and aloe vera contains superoxide dismutases. Both these substances have been implicated as possible simulators of hair growth in androgenetic alopecia. Aloe vera contains a potential anti-inflammatory mannose-6-phosphate. It contains acemannan which apparently stimulates macrophages to produce cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha, and acts as an antiviral by stimulating T cytotoxic cells.
