Aloe Vera (Gel, Juice and Latex): Evidence, Safety and How It Is Used
Aloe vera gel, juice and latex are different products. Evidence for skin and blood sugar, liver and laxative cautions, and what animal cancer studies found for whole leaf extract.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Safety first. Aloe latex taken by mouth can cause abdominal pain, cramps and diarrhea, and oral aloe leaf extracts have been linked to cases of acute hepatitis. [1] Aloe taken by mouth in gel, latex or whole leaf form may be unsafe in pregnancy and breastfeeding. [1] If you feel unwell after taking aloe by mouth, seek medical care; for trouble breathing or collapse call 911, and for a possible poisoning call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). Liver warning signs are listed on Liver Injury Warning Signs From Supplements and Herbs.
Overview and plant name
Aloe vera is a plant in the family Asphodelaceae. The accepted name is Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.; Aloe barbadensis Mill. is listed as a synonym. [2] The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) lists Aloe vera and several other species under the common name aloe. [1] The part used is the leaf. For a plant profile, see Aloe Vera.
Gel, juice and latex are not the same
NCCIH explains that aloe products can be made from the gel (inner leaf), the latex (outer layer of the leaf) or the whole crushed leaf, which contains both. [1] Whole leaf extract that has not been treated with activated carbon is called non-decolorized and contains anthraquinone components, which NCCIH describes as toxic. [1] A "juice" product may be made from any of these, so the label and ingredient list matter. Results for one part or preparation do not carry over to another.
Traditional use
NCCIH notes aloe was used in ancient Greece, Rome, Babylonia and China, historically for skin conditions, thought to prevent premature graying of hair and to promote wound healing. [1] This is traditional use and is not proof of benefit.
What research shows
| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Form and population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burns (on the skin) | NCCIH says clinical research suggests topical aloe gel may speed burn healing and reduce burn-related pain. [1] | Promising but limited | Topical gel |
| Skin graft donor sites | In a trial of 12 patients (24 sites), donor sites healed in 11.5 days with aloe gel versus 13.67 with placebo; pain scores did not differ significantly. [3] | Promising but limited (small) | Topical gel, clinic setting |
| Acne, psoriasis and others | NCCIH says two small studies suggest aloe gel combined with other treatments may improve acne, and a small amount of research covers other skin conditions. [1] | Insufficient evidence | Topical, mostly combined treatments |
| Blood sugar | A meta-analysis of 9 studies (283 people) reported lower fasting blood glucose and HbA1c with oral aloe, but found signs of publication bias for glucose and called for better controlled studies. [4] | Mixed to limited | Oral products, people with prediabetes or diabetes |
| Weight | NCCIH describes one small study in which a specific aloe gel product taken for 8 weeks modestly reduced weight and fat mass in adults with obesity or overweight and diabetes or prediabetes. [1] | Insufficient evidence | One product, one small study |
NCCIH adds that there is not enough reliable information on eczema, diabetic foot ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis. [1]
Safety in detail
- Latex and the FDA. In 2002 the US Food and Drug Administration required manufacturers to remove aloe latex from over-the-counter laxative products because of a lack of safety data. [1] For a different laxative plant, see Senna.
- Liver. Aloe leaf extracts taken for as little as 3 weeks and as long as 5 years have been related to cases of acute hepatitis. [1] A published case describes a 73-year-old woman whose liver markers returned to normal after she stopped oral aloe vera capsules. [5] See Liver Safety and Supplements.
- Cancer studies in animals (preclinical). The US National Toxicology Program gave a non-decolorized whole leaf extract in drinking water for two years. It reported clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in rats (adenomas and carcinomas of the large intestine) and no evidence in mice. [6] NCCIH notes the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified this extract as a possible human carcinogen, and that most animal safety studies used a non-decolorized extract that is not commonly used by consumers. [1] A 2023 review of food-grade drinkable products with no more than 10 parts per million aloin concluded they were not genotoxic. [1] These are animal and laboratory findings, not human trial results.
- Topical use. Aloe gel is generally well tolerated, with occasional reports of burning, itching, rash and eczema. [1] See Patch Testing Natural Ingredients.
- Medicines. Overuse of aloe latex may increase the risk of adverse effects from cardiac glycosides such as digoxin. [1] The sources we read did not describe diabetes-medicine interactions, but blood glucose fell in trials, so ask a pharmacist. See How Interactions Work.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Oral aloe may be unsafe. [1] See Pregnancy and Breastfeeding.
- Children, older adults, kidney disease, surgery, allergy: not described in the sources we read, so ask a clinician. Supplements can matter before surgery; tell the surgical team. [7]
- Wounds and burns. Serious burns need medical care. This page does not give home treatment advice.
Quality
The cancer concern in animals applies to non-decolorized whole leaf extract, so the form of a product matters. [1] Supplements are not approved by the FDA before sale. [8] See Quality Testing and Certifications.
Frequently asked questions
Is aloe gel the same as aloe latex?
No. Gel comes from the inner leaf and latex from the outer layer. [1]
Is aloe vera juice safe to drink?
Short-term oral gel use up to 42 days was described as safe in research studies, but oral leaf extracts have been linked to hepatitis. [1] Ask a clinician; the form matters.
Does aloe help burns?
NCCIH says clinical research suggests topical gel may speed burn healing and reduce pain. [1] Serious burns need a clinician.
Does aloe cause cancer?
A non-decolorized whole leaf extract caused large intestine tumors in rats, not mice. [6] Human cancer evidence: Proper evidence not found in the sources we read.
Does aloe lower blood sugar?
A meta-analysis reported lower glucose and HbA1c, with caveats. [4] It is not a replacement for diabetes care; ask the prescriber or pharmacist.
References
- Aloe Vera: Usefulness and Safety, NCCIH (NIH). Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., species record 2777724 (with synonym Aloe barbadensis Mill., record 2777729). Read 2026-10-23.
- Topical aloe vera gel for accelerated wound healing of split-thickness skin graft donor sites: a double-blind randomized controlled trial and systematic review, Plast Reconstr Surg 2018, PubMed 29649056. Read 2026-10-23.
- Reduction of fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c using oral aloe vera: a meta-analysis, J Altern Complement Med 2016, PubMed 27152917. Read 2026-10-23.
- Oral aloe vera-induced hepatitis, Ann Pharmacother 2007, PubMed 17726067. Read 2026-10-23.
- Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of a Nondecolorized Whole Leaf Extract of Aloe Barbadensis Miller (Aloe Vera), Technical Report 577, National Toxicology Program (US). Read 2026-10-23.
- Using Dietary Supplements Wisely, NCCIH (NIH). Read 2026-10-23.
- Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements, US Food and Drug Administration. Read 2026-10-23.