CBD-infused products like lotions, oils, and creams are largely used by many to tackle skin issues like wrinkles, itching, and pain. The article provides CBD content for good skin by giving information to the following headlines; what is CBD? CBD for skincare; How to use CBD for your skin; benefits of CBD for skin, and potential side effects of CBD.
CBD has gained popularity in the health and beauty sector. It is readily available in CBD oils, gummies, beverages, topicals, and capsules. If you take a deep dive into CBD, you will discover that CBD can be used to treat many symptoms associated with skin conditions such as acne and arthritis. Moreover, it can alleviate skin problems’ pain, inflammation, and wrinkles. Additionally, it maintains skin moisture and generally improves skin complexity. Most people prefer CBD-infused skin care products since they have no dangerous side effects associated with many cosmetics, like dependency, worse itching, and accumulation of skin pimples.
WHAT IS CBD?
Arkell et al. (2019) described CBD (Cannabidiol) as an active chemical compound existing naturally in the leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant, like hemp and marijuana. Most companies extract the compound from the hemp plant since the plant has a high concentration of CBD and a low level of THC content. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is also another famous cannabinoid existing mostly in the marijuana plant and is largely associated with highness to its users since it has psychoactive properties. On the other end, CBD is non-psychoactive and portrays medicinal properties like anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-depressant. All these properties make it best suited for skin conditions
CBD FOR SKINCARE
Rooney et al. (2020) explained that CBD has three different compositions and effects in skincare products. Companies use different extraction methods to derive CBD from the hemp plant, resulting in CBD isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum. CBD isolate-infused products largely contain the compound only since other cannabinoids are removed during extraction.
Full-spectrum skincare products provide users with entourage effects since they contain all cannabinoids in the hemp plant, like terpenes, which heightens the benefits of CBD to the skin. It also has traces of THC, whose content is less than 0.3%; hence the risk of getting high is minimal. Broad-spectrum CBD lies in the middle of the other types, and it provides entourage effects to the skin without any risk of getting high since it contains most cannabinoids except THC.
Upon extraction, CBD is diluted with organic carrier oils such as coconut, olive, and hemp seed plants since CBD is fat-soluble. Besides adding more benefits to the skin, the oils also allow ease of absorption and penetration of the compound in the system.
HOW TO USE CBD FOR YOUR SKIN
Two effective’ methods have proven to be efficient in tackling skin problems, namely:
TOPICALS
CBD topicals such as cream, salve, body scrub, lotion, and balm are mostly used in skincare to improve complexity. Smear the product in your desired skin area. CBD is easily absorbed into the skin tissues, where it helps to moisturize and cleanse the skin.
SUBLINGUALLY
It involves putting a few drops of CBD oil under the tongue and holding the liquid for a few minutes before swallowing for an effective result. Under your tongue, the active CBD compound enters your bloodstream through the mouth and checks membranes. It effectively improves skin conditions since it takes less than 5 minutes for effects to kick in, and you can easily control the CBD dosage.
BENEFITS OF CBD TO YOUR SKIN
INCREASES PRODUCTION OF COLLAGEN
CBD interacts with the skin oil gland to increase the release of skin proteins responsible for removing skin wrinkles and maintaining skin firmness. Collagen is responsible for improving skin appearance by maintaining skin firmness and eliminating wrinkles.
CBD ACTS AS A MOISTURIZER
Sometimes your skin can appear dull, pale, and dry due to environmental or body causes. When your body is threatened by infections, the oil gland tends to reduce the production of skin oil, which maintains skin moisture. CBD, when applied, reacts with body receptors in the inner layer of the skin, which induces the glands to produce more skin oil, making you appear plump and fresh.
CBD Acts As a Cleansing and Anti-Bacterial Agent
Ashton (2021) explained that CBD is an impressive stabilizing agent as it clears the skin from radicals and bacterial infection. The skin contains unstable cells and radicals that damage healthy cells resulting in the accumulation of dead cells, which can cause infection. CBD is known to remove these free radicals and also act as a barrier from external bacterial attacks.
CBD ACTS AS AN ANTIOXIDANT FOR HARSH SKIN DISEASES
Examples of these diseases include acne, psoriasis, arthritis, and eczema. CBD is an anti-oxidant that reduces symptoms like skin itching, swelling, pain, and rashes. Additionally, omega 6 and 3 in CBD help repair skin tissue damages caused by skin diseases or excessive UV radiation, thus showing healing properties.
CBD HAS ANTI-AGING PROPERTIES
Meletis & Louis (2018) explained that as people age, the skin elasticity is affected, and the skin starts moving with gravity resulting in sagged and leathery skin. Skin elasticity is the property of the skin to retain its normal form after being poked. As people age, the production of skin elastic protein called elastin reduces. CBD applied interacts with skin receptors which in return increases the production of the protein, thus boosting skin elasticity.
REDUCES SKIN PAIN AND INFLAMMATION
CBD is largely known for its inflammatory properties, as it helps people tackle irritation and inflammation in the body. CBD interacts with skin cannabinoid receptors, responsible for maintaining body balance (homeostasis) by reducing inflammation in intracellular activities. CBD interaction results in soothing the skin from pain and irritation caused by burns, infections, excessive sun exposure, and may regular injuries.
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS OF CBD ON THE SKIN
CBD is considered a safe herbal remedy with no dependency properties. However, frequent use of CBD and large dosages can result into;
- Loss of appetite and weight
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Sometimes, it reacts with other medications resulting in worse itching or skin irritation
CONCLUSION
CBD skincare products have gained popularity as many people know their benefits in improving skin complexity. CBD has anti-aging properties that help remove skin wrinkles and leathery by increasing collagen and elastin proteins production, moisturizing and cleansing the skin from bacterial infection. It also reduces skin inflammation and irritation by acting as a healing agent in torn skin tissue by external threats like UV. To harness all these CBD powers, CBD can be applied directly to the skin or sublingually by placing a few drops of CBD oil under the tongue. It is important to consult a doctor before using CBD to avoid side effects like nausea and loss of appetite.
REFERENCES
Arkell, T. R., Lintzeris, N., Kevin, R. C., Ramaekers, J. G., Vandrey, R., Irwin, C., … & McGregor, I. S. (2019). Cannabidiol (CBD) content in vaporized cannabis does not prevent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced impairment of driving and cognition. Psychopharmacology, 236(9), 2713-2724.
Ashton, L. (2021). CBD Oil for Skin Care: Benefits of Using Hemp Facial & Beauty Products.
Meletis, C. D., & Louis, B. W. S. (2018). Clinical rationale for CBD use on mood, depression, anxiety, brain function, and optimal aging. In Cannabis (pp. 139-145). CRC Press.
Rooney, M., Elbahri, M., Shivers, K., Wilson, C., & Merten Ph.D., J. W. (2020). Cannabidiol (CBD) Skincare on Instagram.
I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round. With my work, I have been featured in Vice, Country Living, Harrods magazine, Daily Telegraph, Grazia, Women's Health, and other media outlets.
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