Cannabis and Skin Care

WHETHER IT’S ACNE or eczema, treating troubled skin can feel like a battleground. There are a thousand things one can try, from over-the-counter creams and face washes to prescription ointments and pills. For some, there will be success with these methods—for others, however, the quest for clear and healthy skin can be ongoing and frustrating.

Fortunately, for those who have exhausted all conventional methods, or for those who desire a plant-based natural solution, cannabis may be your skin care answer.

Cannabis’s Skin Care Potential

It’s no surprise that cannabis may possess skin-healing benefits. All the elements are there. Cannabis is a known anti-inflammatory, with antioxidant and antiaging properties. In addition, hemp seed oil contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which provide moisture and protection from sun damage.

The endocannabinoid system consists of many cannabinoid receptors, and a large portion of these are found in the skin. Molecules in cannabis such as THC and CBD interact with this system to create the aforementioned positive effects.

Of course, when it comes to skin care, topicals are key. Smoke, no matter the substance, is never favorable to skin. In fact, if skin care is on the forefront of one’s mind, it may be wise to forego smoking altogether in exchange for vaporizing or edibles. For targeted healing, there is a range of topical products to consider trying. Hemp oil and cannabis-derived CBD oil, for example, are gaining popularity as skin remedies.

Treating Skin Conditions with Cannabis

Study after study show the potential for cannabis to revolutionize the skin care world, and yet the topic remains rather obscure. Still, one need not look far to hear the stories of those who have been successful using cannabis for all types of skin ailments. Anecdotal evidence hints at the potential of CBD to cure contact dermatitis. Studies have shown potential benefits of cannabinoids in the treatment of psoriasis, due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Other accounts tout success using cannabis as a treatment for everything from acne to eczema.

When one considers how prevalent skin conditions are, it becomes clear that a safe, effective treatment is not only necessary but will be largely embraced by a huge subset of the population. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that fifty million Americans are affected by acne annually, and although the majority of sufferers are under the age of twenty-four, approximately 15 percent of those afflicted are older adults. Reported costs of treating acne are said to collectively exceed $3 billion.

And that’s just acne alone. Combine those statistics with the approximately 7.5 million U.S. citizens who have psoriasis, 28 million who have (specifically) atopic dermatitis, and the billion-dollar anti-aging market, and a very clear picture is painted. Skin care remedies are a deeply sought after and much needed treatment. It says a lot that the market is so oversaturated with variations of creams, pills, and washes, both prescription and nonprescription. Some will find relief in variations of these products. For others, the search for relief seems endless. In truth, there has been no single guaranteed solution, no matter what the flashy commercials may have one believe.

However, as studies on the effects of cannabis skin care continue to emerge, and the understanding of the endocannabinoid system and its receptors improves, a new, unprecedented skin care market may well begin to develop. Although it will surely include a range of products like its predecessor, with mixed creams and balms containing all manner of oils in conjunction with cannabis, the beauty of cannabis skin care is that when all is said and done, the main ingredient, whether it be CBD, THC, or a combination thereof, will be readily available to make as luxurious or as simple of a treatment as desired.