Skin is the largest organ of the body. It offers our internal organs and systems crucial barrier protection against bacteria and viruses from everyday exposure. Hence, it is necessary to take care of our skin.
There is already some evidence that suggests that CBD can be beneficial to treat acne. But what about other skin conditions? Various studies show that CBD is beneficial for healthy skin.
The Endocannabinoid System and the Skin
The human endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a critical role in maintaining and regulating the skin. In a paper on the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Skin Health and Disorders, Baswan et al. 2020 assert that the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the ECS is present in the following cells and nerves that affect the skin:
Melanocytes – cells that produce melanin/pigment.
Cutaneous nerve fibres – provide nerve supply to the skin.
Keratinocytes – skin cells found in the epidermis or the outer layer of the skin.
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoids and receptors in the ECS to regulate how melanocytes, cutaneous nerve fibres, and keratinocytes perform their functions.
Moreover, a 2019 review on Cannabinoid Signalling in the Skin by Tóth, Ádám, Bíró, & Oláh discuss how endocannabinoids like CBD are “deeply involved in the maintenance of skin homeostasis”. They argue that impairment of how cannabinoid receptors regulate the skin can lead to several conditions such as pigment disorders, itch, eczema, and psoriasis.
Hence, CBD and other cannabinoids are important for healthy skin and can be beneficial to protect the body against skin disorders.
Here are three reasons to start incorporating CBD into your 2021 skincare routine!
1. CBD Can Help Even Your Skin Tone
CBD can help if you have an uneven skin tone or if you suffer from pigmentation disorders. This is due to the relationship between cannabinoids and melanocytes (cells that produce melanin and are responsible for the skin’s pigmentation). Pigment disorders like hypopigmentation arise when melanocytes create less melanin, leaving patches of lighter skin across the body. CBD interacts with the CB1 receptor to enhance the process of melanogenesis, where melanocytes produce melanin. According to Hwang et al. 2017, CBD stimulates the enzyme tyrosinase that is involved in melanin production and, therefore, increases melanin in the body. By regulating the production of melanin in the skin, CBD may even out your skin tone, giving you the perfect skin.
2. CBD Can Soothe Skin from Itch
CBD can be beneficial for you if you have itchy skin. The ECS plays a role in skin cell communication with sensory nerve cells that transmit an itching sensation in the body. The endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) has an anti-itch effect on the body. Meanwhile, the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase or FAAH is responsible for breaking down AEA. The suppression of the enzyme FAAH lowers the body’s scratching response by activating the CB1 receptor and increasing AEA in the brain and spinal cord. CBD is an inhibitor of FAAH, meaning that it slows down the breakdown of AEA. In doing so, CBD allows the skin to enjoy the anti-itch benefits of AEA.
3. CBD Can Help with Dry, Flaky Skin
CBD can help manage dry skin due to its interaction with keratinocytes, cells found in the epidermis. Keratinocytes are essential for the skin’s barrier protection function and its ability to regulate water loss. The abnormal spread of keratinocytes results in thick lesions on the skin, commonly seen with eczema and psoriasis. Moreover, people with eczema and psoriasis have high trans-epidermal water loss, resulting in damaged skin barrier function and excessively dry skin. According to a 2019 anecdotal study by Palmieri, Laurino, & Vadalà on the therapeutic effects of CBD ointment in skin diseases, CBD can prevent the abnormal spread of keratinocytes. Moreover, the consistent administration of topical CBD over three months led to improved skin hydration and trans-epidermal water loss in 10 patients with eczema and psoriasis. While CBD is not a cure for conditions like eczema or psoriasis, it can help manage skin dryness.
CBD can be incorporated into your skincare routine if you want an even skin tone and smooth skin or if you want to soothe your skin from itching. You can check out our Premium CBD balm for topical application directly to your skin. Or you can try one of our CBD oils if you want to ingest or add it to one of your regular skincare products. Be sure to consult your dermatologist if you are already using prescription skincare medication and want to make the switch to CBD.
References
Baswan, S. M., Klosner, A. E., Glynn, K., Rajgopal, A., Malik, K. Y., & Stern, N. (2020). Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Skin Health and Disorders. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 13, 927-942. doi:10.2147/CCID.S286411
Hwang, Y. S., Kim, Y.-J., Kim, M. O., Kang, M., Oh, S. W., Nho, Y. H., . . . Lee, J. (2017). Cannabidiol upregulates melanogenesis through CB1 dependent pathway by activating p38 MAPK and p42/44 MAPK. Chemico-Biological Interactions, 273, 107-114. doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2017.06.005
Palmieri, B., Laurino, C., & Vadalà, M. (2019). A therapeutic effect of cbd-enriched ointment in inflammatory skin diseases and cutaneous scars. La Clinica Terapeutica, 170(2), 93-99. doi:10.7417/CT.2019.2116
Tóth, K. F., Ádám, D., Bíró, T., & Oláh, A. (2019). Cannabinoid Signaling in the Skin: Therapeutic Potential of the “C(ut)annabinoid” System. Molecules, 24(5). doi:10.3390/molecules24050918