The claims that some skin care brands make about their skin care products are sometimes quite outlandish. There are skin products that are full of chemicals after chemicals that end up doing more harm than good. There are products that claim that they will make you look fifty years younger or claims that their products are all natural. Well, these may be true, but it is more likely that they are just pulling your leg to get you to buy their overpriced product. You could be thinking, well, aren’t you doing the same thing? No, we are here to give you the facts, with research galore (or at least as much as we could find). CBD? For skin? Yes! It is likely that you have seen quite a bit of CBD skin health products on the market and this is for good reason too! This naturally found compound has been put into all sorts of products. So, how does it work? Read on to find out how.
Cannabidiol
Cannabidiol or CBD is a naturally occurring compound found in the Cannabis sativa plant family. Cannabis sativa plants are found naturally and have been getting quite a bit of light in recent holistic health ways. Cannabis sativa has a few family members that you should be aware of. The hemp plant and the marijuana plant are both members of the Cannabis sativa family. They are similar yet different. It is more likely that you have heard of the marijuana plant over the hemp plant as it has been in the news and is under research for years. The marijuana plant contains another cannabinoid alongside CBD called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is well known for the inebriating effects it has on those who use it. THC causes a ‘high’ or feeling of euphoria. Because of this effect marijuana and THC are not legal throughout the states. However, there are a handful of states that have legalized the use both recreational and medicinal. The hemp plant contains high amounts of CBD and at or lower than 0.3% of THC. This percentage of THC cannot cause a feeling of ‘high’ when used so CBD and the hemp plant became federally legal in 2018. Since then, CBD has been gaining a huge popularity. More in the holistic health realm and for good reason. So, what can CBD do to your skin?
CBD cream
CBD cream is what we call a topical application of CBD. CBD topicals come in creams, salves, lotions and even hand sanitizer for antibacterial uses. CBD topicals are different from most products that contain CBD. This is because topical don’t generally reach the bloodstream from the skin. Once applied the CBD topical can be absorbed into the pores of the skin but it doesn’t usually make it all the way to the bloodstream. Other CBD products do get all the way to the bloodstream but not topicals and creams.
This does not mean that CBD topicals aren’t as effective, but they do different things. This study looked at those who had popular skin disorders that left them with scars. The people who conducted this study asked participants to use a CBD enriched ointment on their scars twice a day for three whole months. In the end, they concluded, with photographic evidence that the CBD ointment helped improve the look and feel of the scars. This is wonderful news and can hopefully help those decide whether CBD is right for their scars or even daily use for skin overall. CBD topicals are best used in the same area and often, keep this in mind as you look at CBD creams and lotions. Perhaps your skin needs no improvement, what else can you use CBD on/for?
CBD: other uses
It is important to note that CBD is still in its infancy although it has been around for quite some time. There needs to be quite a bit of research done on CBD and the way it is used. However, the reasons below have research attached and may be helpful!
FDA approved medications: This use of CBD is FDA approved, so there doesn’t need to be a whole lot of convincing. Epidiolex is the most well-known FDA approved medication containing CBD. This medication assists those with two harsh types of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. There are also quite a few others that assist those going through anti-cancer treatments and the nausea it often causes. These are called Marinol (dronabinol), Syndros (dronabinol), and Cesamet (nabilone).
Promote a sense of calm: Giving a sense of calm in those who have feelings of anxiousness could be helpful to many. In this study, they used brain scanning to exam subjects who have SAD (social anxiety disorder). Those who were given CBD showed a decrease in their social anxiety disorder. Those who did not receive the CBD did not have any decrease and remained the same.
Anti-inflammatory properties: CBD has been researched for the possibility of joint health benefits. In this study they studied dogs who are older and have joint health issues. During this study, they asked pet owners to give CBD to their dogs twice a day for 4 weeks straight. The owners took a weekly test to show if anything had improved or not. At the end of the 4 weeks straight pet owners said their dogs were more mobile. So, the CBD may have helped with their dog’s joint health.
Antibacterial properties: There has been research coming to the front of the potential antibacterial properties of CBD. In this study they found that CBD had the capability to kill certain types of bacteria.
There are so many ways to use things that are found naturally, and CBD is one of the most popular ones because of the amount of research that has been done and the how much research there is to come. CBD cream may work for you, but it may not work for all. We suggest trying a small amount of any type of CBD product and then slowly increase the amount until you see/feel the results you want.