Full-face dermabrasion provided an ideal opportunity to document the effects of dressings on wound healing management. Following the procedure, the abraded face was divided in half. One side was treated with the standard polyethylene oxide gel wound dressings. The other side was treated with a polyethylene oxide gel dressing saturated with stabilized Aloe vera. The polyethylene oxide dressing provided an excellent matrix for the release of Aloe vera gel during the initial 5 days of wound healing. By 24-48 hours there was dramatic vasoconstriction and accompanying reduction in edema on the Aloe-treated side. By the third to fourth day there was less exudate and crusting at the Aloe site, and by the fifth to sixth day the reepithelialization at the Aloe site was complete. Overall, wound healing was approximately 72 hours faster at the Aloe site. This acceleration in wound healing is important to reduce bacterial contamination, subsequent keloid formation, and/or pigmentary changes. The exact mechanism of acceleration of wound healing by Aloe vera is unknown.

Effect Of Aloe Vera Gel To Healing Of Burn Wound, A Clinical & Histologic Study
Visuthikosol V; Chowchuen B; Sukwanarat Y; Sriurairatana S; Boonpucknavig V
Department Of Surgery, Faculty Of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
Journal of The Medical Association of Thailand (1995 Aug) 78 (8) 403-9

In a study of twenty-seven patients with partial thickness burn wound, they were treated with Aloe vera gel compared with vaseline gauze. It revealed the Aloe vera gel treated lesion healed faster than the vaseline gause area. The average time of healing in the Aloe gel area was 11.89 days and 18.19 days for the vaseline gauze treated wound. Statistical analysis by using t-test and the value of P < 0.002 was statistically significant. In histologic study, it showed early epithelialization in the treated Aloe vera gel area. Only some minor adverse effects, such as discomfort and pain were encountered in the 27 cases. This study showed the effectiveness of Aloe vera gel on a partial thickness burn wound, and it might be beneficial to do further trials on burn wounds.

Comparative Evaluation Of Aloe Vera In The Management Of Burn Wounds In Guinea Pigs
Rodriguez-Bigas M; Cruz NI; Suárez A
Surgical Research Laboratories, University Of Puerto Rico School Of Medicine
Plast Reconstr Surg 81(3):386-9 1988 Mar

An experimental study was designed using Hartley guinea pigs, who received full-thickness burns covering 3 percent of their body surface area by direct contact with a hot plate. A total of 40 animals were equally divided among four modalities of closed burn wound management as follows: group I: silver sulfadiazine (Silvadine); group II: Aloe vera gel extract; group III: salicylic acid cream (aspirin); and group IV: plain gauze occlusive dressing only. The dressings were changed daily, and the size and appearance of each burn wound were recorded until complete healing. On the sixth postburn day, quantitative burn wound cultures were made. The average time to complete healing in the control group was 50 days, and the only significant difference was found in the Aloe vera-treated animals, which healed on an average of 30 days (p less than 0.02). Wound bacterial counts were effectively decreased by silver sulfadiazine (p = 0.015) and by Aloe vera extract (p = 0.015). From our data it appears that Aloe gel extracts permit a faster healing of burn wounds.

Aloe Plant For Promotion Of Wound Healing
Davis, Robert H

The present invention describes a compn. derived from the Aloe plant which when used as an adjuvant for the healing of wounds exhibits increased anti-inflammatory and wound-healing activity. An open wound is treated by (1) applying a first wound-healing compn. comprising Aloe vera and gibberellin or micronized aspiring to an open wound and (2) overlaying the first compn. with a bandaging mixt. comprising an 1:1 ratio of whole leaf Aloe vera and Aloe vera mucilage. The compn., an Aloe vera mucilage at approx. 1:1 ratio, preferably with Aloe pulp fibers, increased open wound healing activity and tensile strength by 131% over controls.

Effects Of Topical Medications On The Healing Of Open Pad Wounds In Dogs
Swaim SF; Riddell KP; McGuire JA
Scott-Ritchey Research Center, College Of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University
Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (1992) Vol 28, No. 6, pp. 499-502

A triple antibiotic ointment (containing polymixin B sulfate, bacitracin and neomycin sulfate) and an Aloe vera extract gel were evaluated for their effects on open wound healing of pad wounds created under anesthesia in 15 Beagle dogs. The primary difference between the 2 medications was noticed at 7 days when the Aloe-treated wounds had a smaller unhealed area than did untreated control wounds and wounds treated with antibiotics.