Can you use CBD oil for acne? Acne is the most common skin condition. While usually related to adolescence, it can also affect adults. And even though it is not a painful condition, it can be very bothering and even lead to insecurity, especially at a young age. There are many natural and conventional treatments for acne. In this post, we will explore one of them: cannabidiol.
What Are the Main Causes of Acne?
Acne is an inflammatory condition that usually appears for the first time during puberty. How does acne occur? Beneath your skin pores, there are hair follicles, and just beneath these follicles, there are sebaceous glands. These glands release sebum (oil) onto your skin to hydrate your skin. But there are times when the sebaceous glands are attacked by bacteria, produce too much oil or dead skin cells cover your pores. When this occurs, the pore is clogged, resulting in pimples, blackheads, or whiteheads.
There are several causes of acne:
- Hormonal changes or hormonal imbalance. That is why acne is so common during puberty and adolescence. There are some hormones (such as androgens) that activate the sebum glands so that they produce much more oil.
- Corticosteroids, some control pills, or hormonal medication can also worsen acne.
- Believe it or not, stress also affects your hormones. Stress hormone CRH (corticotrophin-releasing hormone) can also boost the sebum production and cause inflammation to the sebaceous glands.
- Dairy and greasy products, as well as foods with high sugar content, could worsen the symptoms of acne.
- Acne can also be hereditary.
Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System
Cannabis is quite a complex plant that contains over one hundred active elements (cannabinoids). These cannabinoids act on the endocannabinoid system that communicates your brain and other parts of your body. The endocannabinoid system (EC) was discovered relatively recently, back in the 1990s. And yet, despite being so “new”, the EC system is a very important part of your body that regulates pain, stress, motor activity, stress, memory, and energy. It is also involved in the cardiovascular system and the immune system.
Cannabinoids bind to the receptors that are part of the endocannabinoid system and activate the functions that this system manages. So, it is no wonder that the studies about the therapeutic uses of cannabis are growing rapidly, as well as the number of places that approve its use (in some cases even for recreational use).
Uses of CBD
Together with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (or cannabidiol) is one of the major cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Due to its psychoactive effects, THC is responsible for the “marijuana” high. But CBD, on the other hand, does not have psychoactive elements. Hence, you cannot get high by consuming cannabidiol.
Just like the other cannabinoids, cannabidiol activates the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the EC system. The effects of CBD on your health include:
- Reduces the frequency of seizures
- Relieves anxiety and stress
- Has anti-inflammatory properties
- Relieves pain
- Could relieve some symptoms of type 2 diabetes
- Boosts appetite
- Protects your cells from oxidative damage
- Reduces the side effects of chemotherapy
- Might improve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
- Could have anti-tumoral properties
Thanks to these effects, people can use CBD oil for a large number of health issues or diseases, ranging from anxiety or depression to diabetes, anorexia, or even Parkinson’s disease.
How Can I Use CBD Oil for Acne?
Sebum is necessary to hydrate your skin and to protect it from microbial or oxidative damage. But excessive sebum could eventually lead to acne. Cannabidiol will help your body regulate the production of sebum. A 2014 study proved that CBD prevented the production of excessive serum. But according to this study, cannabidiol’s anti-inflammatory properties could also prevent acne breakouts. These anti-inflammatory properties can also make your skin look better, with less inflammation. Moreover, CBD oil also has antifungal and anti-bacterial properties, which could keep your skin clean and protected from external agents.
But what is the best way to use CBD oil for acne? You can use it either topically or orally. Applying CBD oil on your skin can help reduce the inflammation and reduce the sebum production of your sebaceous glands. You can either apply it directly on your skin or mix it with a carrier oil (which may vary depending on your skin type). You can also find a lot of CBD topical products in the market.
Thanks to its effects, taking CBD oil orally will also help you reduce inflammation and decrease the sebum production. The best thing about using CBD oil orally is that it could prevent future outbreaks. CBD oil usually comes in small bottles with a dropper. The dosage will depend on your weight and the purpose you want to use it for, so it is recommendable you find a dosage calculator (there are many online). Moreover, you can also combine the use of oral and topical CBD.
Other Ways to Improve Your Skin
Also, keep in mind that there are more things that you can do to improve your skin, other than using CBD oil for acne. Use appropriate products for acne, keep it clean, and exfoliate it regularly (once or twice a week). And do not forget to follow a healthy diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits. And avoid high-glycemic foods, such as pasta or white rice, since they might worsen the symptoms.
