Aloe vera is an effective treatment for a skin disorder and could be used to treat mouth ulcers, researchers say.

Gels containing extracts from the plant were found to ease the burning, stinging pain and ulcers associated with oral lichen planus, a chronic inflammatory disorder of the mouth.

Affecting more than 1 in 100 people, persistent mouth ulcers due to lichen planus can give rise to cancerous changes within the ulcer, and so need to be monitored by a doctor.

Previously the condition has been hard to treat, but a study in the British Journal of Dermatology confirms anecdotal reports that aloe vera gel could help to soothe symptoms.

A team of Thai dermatologists examined 54 patients, half of whom were treated with a topically applied aloe vera gel while the other half received a placebo.

A total of 81 per cent of the patients treated with aloe vera had a good response after eight weeks of treatment, while only 4 per cent of placebo patients had a similar response.

Where improvement did occur, it was on a significantly greater scale in those treated with aloe vera – symptoms improved by more than 50 per cent in 63 per cent of aloe vera patients, whereas only 7 per cent of the placebo patients had this level of improvement.

Burning pain completely disappeared in a third of the aloe vera patients, compared with only 4 per cent of the placebo group. No serious side-effects were found in either group, and the researchers believe that aloe vera could not only be used to treat oral lichen planus, but also common mouth ulcers.

Aloe vera is known to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties and has been used to treat various skin conditions such as cuts, burns and eczema.

Cosmetic companies add sap or other derivatives from the plant to products such as make-up, tissues, moisturisers, soaps, sunscreens, shampoos and lotions, but the effectiveness of the extract in these products remains unknown.

The cause of oral lichen planus is not known, but it may be linked to a disorder of the body’s immune system.

Charoen Choonhakarn, dermatologist at Srinagarind Hospital Medical School, Khon Kaen University, in Thailand, and one of the study’s authors, said:“We found that the effect of 70 per cent aloe vera gel on the disorder was significantly better than a placebo. The results showed decreases both in clinical signs and in pain scores. Mild, adverse effects were reversible and aloe vera was well tolerated”.

Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: “Aloe vera has proven anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. This is an interesting development for the treatment of mouth ulcers.”

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