None of us like to struggle with skin challenges. It’s not uncommon for people to try all matter of things to help get their skin where they’d like it to be. Coming out of covid especially, we’ve seen a lot of different skincare trends come and go, with skincare being spoken about as a vital part of self-care and daily routines. It should be no surprise then that people have been turning to CBD for answers.

This is where we come in – to explore the conversation, the science, what we know so far, and the gaps in our current understanding. So let’s talk about it: all things CBD and skincare.

A Plethora of Variables

There are a multitude of skin challenges, ranging from acne to skin cancer. Due to the vastness of the topic, we’re not going to discuss or explain every skin condition out there. What’s important to note, however, is that CBD and skincare research is really new, meaning that there isn’t a lot out there for many of these conditions. Most of the science we have right now speaks about inflammation, the ECS, red marks, and dry/itchy skin. It’s more about specific symptoms than it is about a list of conditions CBD may be able to help with.

Additionally, while skin challenges are all very unique from each other, so are our bodies. Just because one person might find success with a certain kind of treatment doesn’t mean everyone will. And in the case of something like acne, there are also often different root causes as well – hence unique treatments.

All this to be said, it can be hard to pinpoint exactly how CBD can impact our skin or act as a treatment for specific conditions. In general, CBD may be one tool in your toolkit, but it’s important to take other steps to care for your skin as well. Especially if you’re dealing with a more severe skin issue, checking in with a doctor or a dermatologist is always a good idea.

Bringing it Back to CBD – The ECS

If we’re going to talk about how CBD may impact our skin’s health, we have to start with the basics: the ECS. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a series of receptors and transmitters that help to keep our bodies in homeostasis, or balance. Put simply, when a neurotransmitter (a chemical produced by the body), locks into a receptor, our body is then able to feed off these chemicals and produce results. The ECS contributes to everything from our sleep cycles to managing pain, mood, appetite, memory, stress, and immune responses. When processes start acting up, the ECS works to return us back to our baseline.

There are two main receptor sites in the ECS, called CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are largely found in the brain and nervous system. They’re associated with promoting feelings of calm through a chemical called anandamide. CB1 receptors are also linked with decreasing pain, anxiety, and inflammation. CB2 receptors are found primarily in organs associated with the immune system. These receptors also may be linked with inflammation.

It’s because of this system and how CBD interacts with it, it may be able to help with all sorts of things, from the regulation of our skin’s homeostasis, barrier formation, or regeneration. Additionally, things like sleep, hormones, and stress can all impact our skin’s health – all things in which CBD has potential to help regulate.

For more info on what CBD does and how it interacts with the ECS, check out this post here.

State of the Research

When it comes to more specific CBD and skincare research, however, the science is still new. What we have so far is some research that suggests CBD may be able to help with a variety of skin conditions, but a lot more science is needed before we know more.

Acne – it can have many different causes, one of these is excessive amounts of sebum, a waxy substance that protects the skin. This study found that CBD may not only help with inflammation, but regulating sebocytes, the cells that are responsible for creating sebum, and preventing them from over producing. Additionally, this study emphasised CBD’s antibacterial and antifungal effects may help prevent acne triggered by infections and pollutants on the skin. Lastly, this study conducted with pure CBD (isolate) found that it may have the potential to reduce scars and other skin marks related to inflammation.

Dry and Itching Skin – Due to CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects, this study notes that it may be useful in treating some of the symptoms of different skin conditions, such as dryness and itching. Additionally, this review of CBD and skincare research concluded that CBD appears to have the potential to help with a variety of related skin issues, including eczema, psoriasis, pruritus, and inflammatory conditions. However, it also reiterates that clinical efficacy and how CBD may be making an impact isn’t clearly identified yet.

Aging – This study highlights CBD’s antioxidant properties, which, when paired with CBD’s anti-inflammatory abilities, may be able to help reduce the appearance of aging.

Types of CBD

As we’ve noted in previous posts, there are both different types of CBD and different ways of taking CBD. It’s important to find something that works for you, especially if you’re just starting out. When it comes to skin care, topicals and other on-the-skin beauty products (like creams or cleaners) are obviously going to be the most popular. However, there doesn’t seem to be much research out there yet that specifies which form of CBD consumption is more efficient in treating skin conditions – after all, all forms of CBD will help regulate the ECS. There’s also a question of bioavailability when it comes to topicals; how much is actually absorbed through your skin is still unclear and, in the case of a skincare product, may vary.

There’s also the matter of Full Spectrum. The majority of studies conducted with CBD are done with isolate – a pure CBD compound. This means that the research isn’t investigating things like the entourage effect and how other supporting compounds (other cannabinoids, flavonoids, or terpenes may be contributing to your skin health).

Medication Interactions

The last important thing to note if you’re starting out with CBD or want to give it a try is that it is known to interact with certain medications. Put simply, CBD can change the way certain medications are metabolized by our system. Essentially, CBD has been found to either increase the amount of medication remaining in your body, or diminish it. Either this means that medication isn’t there when you need it to be, or you’re possibly risking an overdose. While being on the lookout for grapefruit warnings is a good start, it’s always best to check in with your doctor and local health authorities in order to ensure you’re being as safe as possible. Whether these interactions apply for topical CBD or not, however, is still unclear, though topicals are absorbed differently (and not through the liver), and may be possibly a safer. That said, checking in with a dermatologist or other related specialist is never a bad idea.

Since CBD and medication interaction is a much larger topic, we’ve spoken about it in more detail here.

TL;DR

When it comes to CBD and skincare, like many things CBD, there’s a lot we still don’t know yet. However, preliminary research suggests that, through the ECS and due to its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD may have the potential to support the maintenance of our skin’s balance and help treat things like acne, dry and itchy skin, and related skin disorders.