Does CBD benefit the skin?

Cannabidiol (CBD), one of two active ingredients in cannabis, has recently come to the forefront of the beauty industry, with companies rushing to put the substance into products such as moisturizers and face masks, among others. However, these companies are hurrying to implement CBD into skincare without fully knowing its effect on the skin.

In 2018 Farm Bill, the United States Federal government legalized the regulated production of hemp, a cannabis sativa plant containing CBD and less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).¹ This change in policy caused a sudden increase in products containing CBD, with companies claiming its many health benefits without the clinical data to support those very claims.

MORE:Are CBD skincare products effective?​

However, some recently conducted studies have found that CBD does have the potential to benefit the skin.

According to the 2019 study, “A therapeutic effect of CBD-enriched ointment in inflammatory skin diseases and cutaneous scars,” researchers administered topical CBD-enriched ointment to lesioned skin twice daily for three months on 20 patients with psoriasis (n=5), atopic dermatitis (n=5) and resulting outcome scars (n=10).² The study goes on to report that following three months, researchers saw improvement in inflammatory and skin symptoms.

Another study from the Journal of Drug in Dermatology published in 2014 found CBD has the potential to aid in suppression of acne breakouts by regulating oil production within the sebaceous glands.³

Despite all of these findings, there is still a need for further research to identify and investigate CBD’s benefits for the skin.

In this two-part series, Aesthetic Authority takes a closer look at CBD skincare market and examines its possible skin benefits.​

References:

1. 2018 Farm Bill. (n.d.). Retrieved October 08, 2020, from https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/2018-farm-bill​

2. Palmieri B, Laurino C, Vadalà M. A therapeutic effect of cbd-enriched ointment in inflammatory skin diseases and cutaneous scars. Clin Ter. 2019;170(2):e93-e99.

3. Barbieri JS, Choi JK, Mitra N, Margolis DJ. Frequency of Treatment Switching for Spironolactone Compared to Oral Tetracycline-Class Antibiotics for Women With Acne: A Retrospective Cohort Study 2010-2016. J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(6):632-638.

4. Hobbins, K. (2020, September 17). Examining CBD Skin Benefits. Retrieved October 08, 2020, from https://www.aestheticauthority.com/view/examining-cbd-skin-benefits