Aloe Vera for Psoriasis: What the Research Shows

Aloe vera is one of the most widely used natural remedies for psoriasis — and, unusually for a natural ingredient, it actually has a handful of real human clinical trials behind it. Here's an honest look at what the research shows.

The Clinical Trial Evidence

A 1996 double-blind, placebo-controlled study gave 60 patients with mild-to-moderate chronic plaque psoriasis either a 0.5% aloe vera extract in a hydrophilic cream or a placebo cream, over a period of weeks. This was a genuine randomized human trial — a rarer thing to find for natural psoriasis ingredients — and found meaningful improvement in the aloe vera group.

A separate randomized trial compared topical aloe vera directly against 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid, in patients with mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. The results suggested aloe vera cream may be more effective than the low-potency steroid cream at reducing clinical symptoms, though both treatments showed similar effects on patients' overall quality of life.

Why the Overall Picture Is Still Mixed

Despite these individual positive trials, a 2015 systematic review of the clinical pharmacology of aloe vera for psoriasis — evaluating four trials that met inclusion criteria — concluded that results on effectiveness were "contradictory," and identified methodological gaps that prevented reaching a final conclusion. In other words: some trials look genuinely promising, but the overall body of evidence isn't yet large or consistent enough to call aloe vera a proven psoriasis treatment with full confidence.

This is a useful example of a broader pattern we cover in our evidence-graded review of natural psoriasis treatments: aloe vera has more human trial data than many natural ingredients, but the trials are small, few in number, and don't all agree.

Why Aloe Vera Might Help

Aloe vera gel has documented anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, and is rich in water content, which supports hydration of dry, scaly skin. These mechanisms are consistent with — though not definitive proof of — its use for psoriasis specifically.

How to Use It

• Choose pure aloe vera gel with minimal added ingredients, particularly avoiding added fragrance or alcohol, which can irritate sensitive skin
• Apply to clean, affected skin once or twice daily, or as part of a broader moisturizing routine
• Patch test first — while generally well tolerated, individual sensitivities are possible with any new topical product

What This Means for You

Aloe vera is a reasonably well-supported, low-risk option to include in a psoriasis skin care routine — better evidenced than many purely traditional remedies, though not as robustly proven as options like topical turmeric or indigo naturalis (covered in our evidence review). It's best used as a gentle, soothing addition to your routine rather than a stand-alone treatment for moderate-to-severe symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is aloe vera better than steroid cream for psoriasis?

One trial found it comparably effective to a low-potency steroid, but this is a single study, not a settled conclusion, and shouldn't be used as a reason to stop a prescribed treatment without talking to your dermatologist.

Can I use aloe vera straight from the plant?

Fresh aloe gel from the leaf is commonly used and generally well tolerated, though store-bought gels offer more consistent concentration if you want to replicate trial conditions more closely.

Next Steps

For the full evidence-graded comparison across natural psoriasis treatments, see our complete review.

This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Sources & References

• Syed TA, et al. Management of psoriasis with Aloe vera extract in a hydrophilic cream: a placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 1996. Wiley Online Library
• Dal'Belo SE, et al. A prospective, randomized clinical trial comparing topical Aloe vera with 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide in mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. ResearchGate
• Review of Clinical Pharmacology of Aloe vera L. in the Treatment of Psoriasis. Phytotherapy Research, 2015. PubMed