Acne breakouts conditions related to skin inflammation are some of the most common problems treated with CBD. Acne is extremely common and while for some people it comes and goes, for others it can be a daily struggle. The good news is that CBD, particularly CBD oil applied topically, may help people deal with this condition, among others. CBD’s antioxidant properties are claimed to be up to 50% more potent than vitamins’ C and E. How could this be important? Antioxidants protect your skin from outer agents that we face everyday, such as air pollution, UV rays and other toxins.
– None of this is surprising when considering that there’s actually a functional Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in human skin! Recent studies (link here) have suggested its existence and implication in “various biological processes (e.g. proliferation, growth, differentiation, apoptosis and cytokine, mediator or hormone production of various cell types of the skin and appendages, such as the hair follicle and sebaceous gland)”.
“It seems that the main physiological function of the cutaneous ECS is to constitutively control the proper and well-balanced proliferation, differentiation and survival, as well as immune competence and/or tolerance, of skin cells. The disruption of this delicate balance might facilitate the development of multiple pathological conditions and diseases of the skin (e.g. acne, seborrhea, allergic dermatitis, itch and pain, psoriasis, hair growth disorders, systemic sclerosis and cancer).”
– In fact, CosIng (Cosmetic Ingredients Database from the European Commission for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients) includes antioxidant, antiseborrheic, skin conditioning and skin protection as some of CBD’s functions.
– Findings conducted in this study suggest that “due to the combined lipostatic, antiproliferative, and antiinflammatory effects, CBD has potential as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of acne”. CBD’s ability to prevent sebocytes (sebum-secreting cells) from overproducing sebum, suppress cell proliferation and prevent “pro-acne” agents to elevate proinflammatory cytokine levels.
– This study which investigated several cannabinoids including CBD concluded that “our results show that cannabinoids inhibit keratinocyte proliferation, and therefore support a potential role for them in the treatment of psoriasis”.
– This recent study on scars related to psoriasis and atopic dermatitis related scars, showed that “topical treatment with CBD-enriched ointment significantly improved the skin parameters, the symptoms and also the PASI [Psoriasis Area and Severity Index] index score”, concluding that “the topical administration of CBD ointment, without any THC, is a safe and effective non-invasive alternative for improve the quality of life in patients with some skin disorders, specially on inflammatory background”.