Aloe Vera Dressings Promote Wound Healing After C-Section

Cesarean births are becoming increasingly common around the world, constituting 21% of all births.¹ While they're often necessary for the safety of mother and baby, they do come with potential post-surgical complications, particularly delayed wound healing. Infections, swelling, and discomfort can disrupt a new mother's recovery and place emotional and financial strain on families. As modern medicine looks toward simpler, cost-effective ways to support healing, one ancient remedy is getting renewed attention: aloe vera.

The Study

In a double-blind clinical trial conducted at Amir-al-Momenin Hospital in Iran, researchers explored whether aloe vera gel could help cesarean wounds heal faster. Ninety women who had just undergone a C-section were randomly divided into two groups. One group had their wound dressed with fresh aloe vera gel, while the other received standard dry gauze.

What made this study stand out was its use of fresh aloe vera gel, peeled straight from the plant and applied directly to the skin. This kept the healing compounds intact, unlike commercial gels that may lose potency during processing.

Wound healing was evaluated using the REEDA scale, which measures redness, swelling, bruising, discharge, and how well the wound edges are coming together.

The Results

Just 24 hours after surgery, the aloe vera group showed a significantly better healing response than the control group. In fact, every single woman in the aloe vera group had a perfect REEDA score of zero, meaning no signs of poor healing. After eight days, both groups had improved, and while the aloe vera group still had slightly better scores, the difference was no longer statistically significant.

Additionally, no side effects were reported in women using the aloe gel.

What Does this Mean?

For new mothers recovering from cesarean births, this research offers a gentle, affordable, and natural option to support the early stages of wound healing. When applied fresh and directly to the skin, aloe vera gel may help with cesarean wound healing by reducing inflammation and kickstarting the body's repair processes in those crucial first 24 hours.

While more studies are needed to confirm long-term benefits, this is a promising step toward blending traditional plant-based remedies with modern postpartum care. Other plant-based foods like turmeric, calendula, and gotu kola are also being studied for their skin-healing and anti-inflammatory properties.