CBD oil is a chemical compound extracted from hemp plants and oftentimes has less than 0.3% THC. It has been the talk of the town for the last 4 years since the Farm Bill was passed in 2018, legalizing industrial hemp, and by extension, CBD oil. Right, there is almost no challenge that people have not tried solving with CBD oil, making the cannabinoid even more popular. Still, you may wonder whether CBD oil is efficacious for rosacea, psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and other skin conditions. It is worth noting that CBD oil is not a treatment, cure, or healing agent for eczema or any skin conditions, although early research shows that it may help these conditions.
Skin Conditions- A Terrible Problem for Humanity
Skin conditions rank among the problems that have tortured humanity the most. Although they may not necessarily kill a person, they are irritating and easily irritable. For instance, eczema and psoriasis cause flakiness and dryness of the skin, which itches at the slightest provocation. Besides, the drying skin, due to the very skin conditions, easily cracks and peels at the simplest agitation.
Furthermore, the conventional medications for skin conditions are not everyone’s kettle of fish altogether. The steroids, NSAIDs, and painkillers that people take for skin conditions are not only expensive but might be ineffective. For instance, the medication might not nourish dry skin or stop the itchy sensation, and when it does, the impact is short-lived. Besides, most of these medications do not come without their fair share of side effects; they might cause further itching and drying of the skin, adding insult to injury. They may work for particular skin types and not for others, meaning that if your skin does not tick the box, it may not work for you. Due to all these complications, people look for alternative methods for managing skin conditions, and some think about CBD oil. Can topical CBD oil help with eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions?
What You Need to Know About CBD Oil and Eczema, Psoriasis, and Other Skin Conditions
CBD research is limited, and there are currently only a few studies that have examined the efficacy of CBD oil for eczema, psoriasis, acne, and other skin conditions. The findings are promising, but there is not yet enough evidence to claim CBD oil for treating skin problems. One study by Stella, et al., (2019)., noted that CBD oil could help reduce pain and fight inflammation on the affected skin. In the study, 3 participants topically applied CBD oil on their skin twice daily for 3 months, after which the skin condition improved.
Further, a study by Baswan, et al., (2020)., showed that CBD oil could help with eczema. In the research, self-reported eczema patients topically applied CBD oil on the skin. In the end, they reported improvements in eczema symptoms, whereby the skin was enhanced by more than 60% in more than half the subjects. While these studies resulted in viable findings, they have their fair share of shortcomings, the main one being the small populations used. Of course, the figures look real in real-life situations, but they are too small to make viable statistical significance. The next sections discuss how CBD might help with skin conditions.
CBD Oil for Acne
Acne is a common skin problem that causes red, white, or black eyes on the skin, which leave black spots when they heal. Acne can be triggered by several factors, including a person’s diet, exposure to irritants and allergens, bacterial infection, and poor hygiene. Yet, the process of acne production is one, regardless of the trigger- excess production of an oily substance called sebum. According to one study by Oláh, et al., (2014), it noted that CBD oil could help reduce sebum production, lowering acne breakouts. Besides, another study in 2019 showed that CBD oil could help acne scars heal faster. Nonetheless, more studies are needed before recommending CBD oil for acne.
CBD Oil for Fighting Infections
Constant cases of skin infections amount to serious dermatological problems. While they might hit and leave, the infections leave the skin with spots that one has to live with, amidst all the stigma and low self-esteem that come with them. Could CBD oil help with infections? Likely, but there is not enough scientific evidence to prove this. Another study by Andre, et al.,(2016)., study comments that CBD oil seems to have powerful antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties that fight bacterial and fungal infections on the skin, solving many skin problems. If this is true, CBD oil could make a wonderful remedy for eczema and other skin conditions.
CBD Oil for Inflammation and Pain
Eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and other skin conditions usually worsen with inflammation and also result in inflammatory reactions, showing that they are in a loop sort of adverse relationship where one factor causes, worsens or results from the other. Could CBD oil help with inflammation? Research shows that CBD oil might have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that might reduce signs and triggers of psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions. Yet, when inflammation reduces, the resultant pain equally reduces. Still, more advanced scientific studies will help before recommending CBD oil for eczema or any skin problem.
CBD Oil for Nourishing Dry, Itchy Skin
Most skin conditions are accompanied by dryness, flakiness, itchy sensations, and peeling off. The study above about skin conditions also backs up this point. Besides, scratching the affected parts exacerbates these symptoms, making the skin even dryer. One study noted that CBD oil might treat a range of skin problem symptoms, including dryness, itching, and flakiness. It found that CBD oil’s potential anti-inflammatory properties may better these symptoms. Still, there is a need for further studies before recommending CBD oil for drying, itchy skin.
Conclusion
Skin conditions are among the commonest problems people have to do with, and they affect many people. Psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, rosacea are among the many skin problems afflicting people. Although CBD oil may not treat these conditions, early research herein referred to suggests that CBD oil may fight inflammation, nourish dry skin, improve symptoms of skin conditions, and fight bacterial and fungal infections. Even so, there is a need for more advanced scientific studies before recommending CBD oil for skin conditions.
References
Andre, C. M., Hausman, J. F., & Guerriero, G. (2016). Cannabis Sativa: The Plant Of The Thousand And One Molecules. Frontiers In Plant Science, 7, 19.
Baswan, S. M., Klosner, A. E., Glynn, K., Rajgopal,
A., Malik, K., Yim, S., & Stern, N. (2020). Therapeutic Potential Of
Cannabidiol (CBD) For Skin Health And Disorders. Clinical, Cosmetic And
Investigational Dermatology, 13, 927.
Oláh, A., Tóth, B. I., Borbíró, I., Sugawara, K.,
Szöllõsi, A. G., Czifra, G., … & Bíró, T. (2014). Cannabidiol Exerts
Sebostatic And Antiinflammatory Effects On Human Sebocytes. The Journal Of
Clinical Investigation, 124(9), 3713-3724.
Stella, A., 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), E93-E99.
Sleep specialist
Using the acquired academic and professional experience, I advise patients with various complaints about mental health - depressed mood, nervousness, lack of energy and interest, sleep disorders, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts and anxieties, difficulty concentrating, and stress. In my free time, I love to paint and go on long walks on the beach. One of my latest obsessions is sudoku – a wonderful activity to calm an unease mind.
- Chickpeas vs. Garbanzo Beans: What’s the Difference? - April 19, 2024
- How to Manage or Improve Anxiety - September 21, 2023
- The birth of a company - July 29, 2023
