Why is everyone on TikTok drinking aloe vera?

You are what you eat — but TikTok’s creators are trying to prove that you are actually what you drink. Many people have already used the app to praise aloe Vera juice, an elixir of life that users claim clears skin and promotes optimal gut health. In fact, as of this writing, videos featuring mixtures have collected about 1.7 billion views.

TikTok content creator Bria Lemirande’s aloe juice testimony on March 14 was one of several aloe juice reviews that gained traction among TikTok users. In the video, Lemirande says her “week and a half” of drinking an ounce of liquid supplements twice a day resulted in her skin “clearing a ton.” She added that her gut health had “never been better” thanks to her regular aloe vera juice.

Lemirande told Allure that drinking the aloe vera juice “feels like it makes [her] skin very dewy, shiny and textured. In terms of gut health, I feel less bloated after eating.

But scientifically speaking, does drinking aloe vera really pave the way for a clearer skin and fuller stomach? According to Dr. Nikhil Dhingra, a board-certified dermatologist with the New York City Board of Trustees, some studies have shown that consuming aloe vera can help relieve acne, but he says “These are not particularly exhaustive studies, so their explanations cannot be taken as definitive evidence.

Still, Dr. Dhingra told Allure there are benefits to using the plant topically. “Aloe vera is known to have anti-inflammatory and healing properties when applied to the outside, and we often learn this by using it to treat mild sunburns,” he explained.

Another board-certified dermatologist, Barry Goldman, M.D., isn’t so sure that drinking aloe vera juice will help soothe acne. Dr. Goldman explained that he was not aware of any studies exploring the relationship between aloe vera juice and skin, but he did think that “aloe vera juice may contain antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory [properties].

“There is no evidence that aloe vera juice is better for your skin than drinking or eating other unsweetened, unprocessed juices, fruits and vegetables,” he added. “Most of the evidence is anecdotal, meaning one or two people have had a good experience or believe in it.

When it comes to the benefits of aloe vera juice for your interior, research is still limited. Nooshin Hosseini, MD, a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist in New York City, says the findings report that “oral aloe vera may be helpful in the short-term treatment of a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Dr Husseini added that “alleged benefits” include antacids, chemical protection and anti-inflammatory effects that can help relieve pain from gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer disease, ulcerative colitis and various symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).

While some studies support that consuming aloe vera may help alleviate some GI issues, Dr. Husseini acknowledges that “to date, no large clinical trial has shown a reliable benefit of aloe vera for long-term symptom relief or GI health. But she does point out that there are some risks with both short – and long-term use of [aloe vera].

“Overuse of whole leaf aloe vera juice or aloe vera latex as laxatives is dangerous in the short term due to fluid transfer and electrolyte disturbance and also has serious long-term effects, such as a potential link with colorectal cancer,” explains Dr Hosseini.

Therefore, if you wish to incorporate aloe vera juice into your daily routine, Dr. Husseini suggests you consult your doctor first. As always, don’t believe everything you read on TikTok.