Aloe vera for sports scrapes and blisters: a safe use guide

For information only. Products do not replace diagnosis, treatment or a varied diet. Seek professional advice for symptoms, pregnancy and use by children.

Scrapes from falls and blisters from shoes or equipment are common in sport. Most heal within about a week with simple care. Aloe vera can be pleasant care for the surrounding skin, but it does not replace cleaning and covering the wound.

A scrape step by step

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
2. Rinse the wound with lukewarm water and mild soap to remove dirt.
3. Stop the bleeding with gentle pressure from clean gauze or a cloth.
4. As the American Academy of Dermatology advises, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist, and cover it with a sterile plaster.
5. Change the plaster every day until the wound heals.
6. If the wound was caused by a dirty or rusty object, check your tetanus vaccination.

Blisters

The NHS advises against bursting a blister. Cover it with a soft plaster or padding, and until it heals avoid the shoes or equipment that caused it. If a blister bursts, wash your hands, let the fluid drain, leave the skin in place and cover it. To prevent blisters, wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes and moisture-wicking socks.

Where aloe fits

Aloe Vera Gelly, an aloe vera gel for caring for sensitive skin, can be optional care for the intact skin around a scrape or blister. Do not apply it into an open wound and do not use it instead of cleaning and a plaster. Before first use, test it on a small patch of skin.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor straight away if a wound is longer than about 2 cm or deeper than about half a centimetre, if bleeding does not stop, or if stones, glass or soil remain in the wound. Also see a doctor if signs of infection appear, such as pus, spreading redness, swelling, warmth or increasing pain, or if blisters keep coming back or appear for no clear reason.

Sources: American Academy of Dermatology NHS Forever Living.