There has been an exponential rise in the interest in CBD products in recent times. This has been largely due to the substance’s myriad of purported health and wellness benefits that include anti-pain, anti-seizure, anti-anxiety, among others. In addition to the other benefits, CBD has also been linked with enhanced dermatological health properties. With the noise about the substance growing louder, it has led to people asking the question, do CBD skincare products work? This is the question we are going to address in this article. Read on.
What are CBD’s Effects on Your Skin?
No doubt, cannabidiol is an effective dermatological health ingredient thanks to its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefit. There have been impressive research efforts showing how cannabinoid affects the body’s largest organ. The mechanisms through which CBD is beneficial to skincare are described below.
Regulation of Sebum Production: According to research, cannabidiol retards the production of any oily skin secretion known as sebum, whose excessiveness is thought to cause a skin condition called acne. Studies have revealed that CBD has an anti-inflammatory effect on sebocytes, which has a functionally active ECS.
Skin Hydration: Cannabidiol helps keep the skin moisturized, making it effective for dry, dehydrated skin.
Decreases Inflammation: CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce pain, swelling, and redness due to existing breakouts or irritation from skin conditions.
However, despite all these highly beneficial effects aforementioned, it is crucial to note that researchers are barely scratching the surface regarding the cannabinoid’s use in skincare. Years of further research are likely to yield more impressive outcomes.
Do CBD Skincare Products Really Work?
The question of whether CBD skincare products really work, or are placebos, confuses a lot of people. However, the good news is that cannabinoid has several skin-related benefits supported by research evidence. These are described below.
Acne: It is one of the most prevalent skin conditions in humans. However, the good news is cannabidiol features numerous compounds that have anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and oil production retarding properties that are crucial in fighting off acne.
Studies were conducted between 2014 and 2019 on the effects of CBD on human sebocytes, which are cells that create sebum. While sebum plays a crucial role in protecting our skin, when produced in excess, it can cause acne. The studies showed that the antibacterial and antifungal properties of CBD help guard against acne due to infections on the skin.
Another study was done during the same period also suggests that cannabinoid helps treat acne scars.
Aging: CBD’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory help avoid the appearance of aging in the skin.
Dryness and Itching: A study conducted in 2019 concluded that cannabidiol might be a useful remedy against common symptoms of skin conditions such as itching and dryness. It was shown that its anti-inflammatory properties might be useful in the reduction of potential triggers of psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema. Cannabidiol is also helpful in soothing skin, reducing the appearance of irritation, as well as insensitive skin.
Infection: According to medical research, CBD features antifungal and antibacterial properties that play a pivotal role in treating infections on the skin.
How to Use CBD Products for Skincare
With there being so many CBD intake methods, users would want to know how they can use CBD products for skincare. To answer this straightforwardly, these are applied to the skin. If you are using a serum, cleanser, spray, moisturizer, or mask, you will need to use them in the same manner as for regular skincare.
It is also important to check the label since sometimes you may need to follow the particular directions given. Checking the label will also make you aware of allergens present in the product if there be any. Let us also be quick to highlight that too much of anything on the skin can be irritating. Therefore, the trick is to start with small quantities and assess how your skin responds.
Can CBD Oil Be Used Topically for Skincare?
When shopping CBD oil online or any other CBD-based products, you will find many experts and reviewers are recommending only CBD oil for many ailments such as pain, inflammation and more. However, when talking about using the oil for topical use still remains unanswered in many new users. There is no doubt CBD oil is the best product in the CBD category. But users need to understand the exact CBD intake method that should be used based on their particular type of pain. For skincare, topical products such as balms, lotions, creams, and salves are the ones that should be applied directly to the target area. CBD oils that are intended for oral intake should not be applied to the skin. It is because they do not have any solvent to suspend them on or make them work there as they are intended for the bloodstream.
CBD Cream vs. CBD Oil: Which One is Best for Pain?
Of course, CBD is a natural, powerful and a potential remedy against different types of pain. However, users are usually confused about whether to use the cream or the oil. The answer to this is it depends on the nature of pain. CBD topicals such as creams, salve, balms, serums, and so on are best for treating and managing localized pain such as one due to arthritis or joints. On the other end, for chronic pain, it might be best to use the oil.
CBD Skincare Products Buying Tips
Of late, there has been a significant influx of CBD skincare products on the market. A lack of a tight regulatory framework has resulted in some bogus and potentially harmful CBD skincare products finding their way into shelves. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the consumers to ensure that they buy safe CBD skincare products. Some of the buying tips are discussed below.
Reputation: The brand’s reputation should play a pivotal role before you settle for a particular CBD skincare product. You must read customer reviews from authentic shopping sites to have an idea of the effectiveness of the product you intend to buy.
Origin of hemp: The hemp source is also important. It is vital to purchase a product manufactured using hemp grown by a licensed producer within federal guidelines.
CBD extraction method: There are several of these. However, some of them leave behind residues that can harm users’ health within the product. It is recommended that you buy CBD skincare products manufactured using CBD extracted either through solvent extraction or the carbon dioxide method.
Transparency policy: The manufacturer should also be transparent, with the certificate of analysis of every batch of products easily accessible online.
Final Thoughts
No doubt, CBD skincare products have many potentials when dealing with dermatological conditions such as acne, dermatitis, psoriasis, and so on. Users should only perform due diligence to ensure that they authentic products that will not harm their health. This involves buying from reputable manufacturers, ones with a strict transparency policy, checking the origin of hemp and CBD extraction as well.
