Cannabidiol (CBD) in Skincare

CBD can induce positive health effects and has the potential to induce these effects through topical application, but what does the research show about CBD skincare?

As an emerging treatment option, more research is needed into CBD as a skincare treatment; however, there are some promising early studies. 

A 2019 study found that CBD ointment improved skin hydration and increased skin elasticity in patients with skin disorders such as psoriasis, eczema, and issues that resulted in scarring. This study also found that CBD was a safe and effective noninvasive treatment for skin disorders (3).

CBD may also be able to improve acne and one study found that CBD has sebum reducing properties. The study found that when applied to a human skin culture, CBD inhibited the synthesis of oil. Excess sebum production is a major cause of acne, so this study shows CBD’s potential as an acne treatment (4).

Research also tells us that CBD has strong anti-inflammatory activity. CBD is thought to reduce inflammation by acting on specific glycine receptors that induce inflammation suppression (5) and has also been found to reduce inflammation in a range of conditions (6,  7). Inflammation contributes to the worsening of many skin conditions, so CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties could improve the symptoms of conditions such as acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis. 

CBD causes no psychoactive effects and is legal throughout the world. Its lack of psychotropic effect poses a huge advantage because it can be safely consumed without becoming intoxicating and preventing people from working. It is also known for its numerous health benefits, many of which are still certainly waiting to be discovered.