Want to give your skin a lustrous glow? Clear up pesky acne? Or get rid of that “where did this come from?!” rash? CBD oil might just be the thing. Using CBD for skin care is a hot trend in cosmetics, facials, massages, and dermatology right now — and rightly so thanks to CBD’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
CBD — or cannabidiol, as it is known — is an organic compound found in the hemp plant. CBD is a “non-intoxicating” natural plant medicine that has been shown to help balance our body’s homeostasis, improve mood, offer pain relief, and yes, improve the health of your skin. CBD is one of 100+ cannabinoids that activates receptors in our endocannabinoid system (ECS), while working with other cannabinoids, terpenes, and natural compounds to produce the “entourage effect.”
CBD comes in many forms — tinctures, edibles, capsules, vapes, gummies, suppositories, and more. For skin care conditions, beauty regimens, and ailments, you may come across CBD oils, lotions, rubs, salves, or patches. We’re mostly going to focus on topicals here, but you can also ingest CBD tinctures (sublingual) and edibles (capsules, gummies) to aid in your skin care, too.
Benefits of CBD for your skin
The nurse team at Green Network Providers is asked every day about the benefits of CBD for any given condition — from multiple sclerosis and cancer to addiction recovery and, yes, skin ailments.
“CBD usage is on a rapid rise because of its contribution to overall wellness,” says Jodi Chapin, a registered nurse and President of Green Network Providers. “Healthy skin is not only essential for a good appearance, but also for maintaining the overall functioning of the body. Healthy skin acts as a defense against viruses and bacteria, produces vitamin D in the presence of sunlight, and helps maintain a constant temperature in the body. ”
A gift from Mother Nature, CBD is:
- Rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamins. The high nutrient profile in CBD beauty products promotes overall skin health and can bring a radiant state to your skin — aka “the glow.”
- Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which makes CBD skin care products ideal for alleviating minor skin irritations, sunburns, scrapes, and diaper rash.
- Neutral and mild by nature, making it perfect for sensitive skin types with “little risk” of harm, according to Dr. Nima Gharavi, leading dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon at the Cedars-Sinai Cosmetic Dermatology Program.
Many clients ask us, “Is it safe? Can I rub CBD oil on my skin?”
Absolutely, says Nurse Jodi: “CBD may be very useful for those with sensitive skin. I have personally found it useful during my psoriatic skin flares. We use it, give it to our parents and grandparents, our children, even Fido and Miss Kitty can take CBD. My first experience with CBD was for one of my dogs, who has severe anxiety, and he had hot spots on his belly and groin.”
(CBD is proven safe for topical use; of course, if you experience an allergic reaction to CBD or any other skin care product, make an appointment with your dermatologist. Fido should see her vet.)
How can CBD help skin conditions?
1. CBD can help prevent acne
Acne is an inflammatory condition that causes redness and itchiness. Many reasons account for the overproduction of sebum, which result in acne. CBD — applied as an oil, moisturizer, lotion, or serum — can help reduce the production of sebum, and thus acne.
“As an anti-inflammatory, CBD may be able to help reduce swelling, pain, and redness from existing breakouts, or irritation from skin conditions, too,” says Sue MacDonald, a skin care expert, aesthetician, and owner of Salon Ambriel in Braintree, Massachusetts.
Bonus: CBD doesn’t clog the skin and reduces acne triggering agents. CBD facial lotions and oils contain gamma-linoleic acid, which regulates hormones, and thus reduces acne, acting as a deep cleanser and restoring natural oil balance in the skin.
2. CBD contains antioxidants, which may be anti-aging and anti-cancer
Spoiler alert! Skin starts becoming dull and wrinkles with aging. (Boo!) While there are several products to reverse skin aging, many treatments can come with side effects. And of course, there is increased potential for skin aging, not to mention skin cancer, when exposed to sun.
Good news though — CBD products have antioxidant properties that improve your skin’s regenerating ability. Derived from hemp seeds, CBD products have omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that produce collagen, preventing excessive water loss. Check out one of our top sellers, the Irie Bliss CBD Face Serum, to help keep your skin hydrated and healthy.
3. Helps nourish dry skin
Dry skin can cause painful rashes, cuts, and cracks. CBD topicals can help regulate the secretion of oil and maintain moisture by interacting with lipids present in the skin. It contains a balance of essential fatty acids that nourishes and improves the skin’s ability to repair. When combined with ingredients like aloe, as found in our Irie Bliss CBD Lavender Body Butter, CBD lotions and salves can be ultra hydrating for dry or sun-kissed skin.
4. Anti-inflammatory properties help sooth eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea
For some of us with eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea, our skin can become red, itchy, rough, and cracked. CBD‘s anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce itchiness by acting on the body’s endocannabinoid system.
“CBD may have an anti-inflammatory effect on sebocytes, the skin cells that produce sebum, which helps reduce inflammation,” says MacDonald. “CBD is also excellent for the very common skin condition, rosacea. People who suffer from rosacea have a difficult time finding products that won’t cause a flare-up on their skin, but with CBD, it can help keep inflammation down and skin hydrated.”
As a chronic psoriatic sufferer, Nurse Jodi knows all too well the physical and emotional effects that come with psoriasis. “When I’m in a skin flare, I have social anxiety and feel embarrassed about my red, scaly plaques, resulting in poor self esteem,” she says. “Not to mention the incessant itching and pain caused by the lesions.”
Looking for a CBD oil to calm, moisturize, and restore balance to your skin? Try a CBD topical like our multi-tasking Goddess CBD Oil.
“Irie Bliss makes high quality, 100% lab tested products, and their Goddess Oil is a great choice for all skin types, thanks to its overall versatility,” says Chapin. “You can take this CBD oil internally by mouth, externally on the skin, even vaginally for a little evening pleasure. And because it is unscented and tasteless, it’s great for fragrance-sensitive and allergen-averse folks, too.”
5. Help alleviate contact dermatitis issues
Contact dermatitis — caused by anything from shampoo and diapers to cosmetics and household cleaners — is a common skin care issue, often treated with topical corticosteroids, antihistamines, or antibiotics. More and more dermatologists and researchers are advancing CBD topicals as a potential treatment, too.
A recent study by Petrosino et al of the Endocannabinoid Research Group and Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare in Naples, Italy, revealed that CBD offered improved anti-inflammatory properties in a controlled experiment of pediatric patients with contact dermatitis.
We recommend a broad spectrum CBD salve or CBD isolate for kids, since it is THC-free.
Learn more >> What’s the difference between full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate?
Should I take CBD for skin issues?
What we put on or in our bodies is a personal choice. But for us, CBD hemp plant medicine is a resounding yes. We’re confident it’s a good option for you, too.
Do you prefer plant medicine over pharmaceuticals, when you have the option? Are you having trouble with a stubborn skin condition that a prescription hasn’t cleared up? Or maybe you just want to incorporate more CBD into your health or beauty regimen? Then please connect with one of us here at Irie Bliss or the Green Network Providers.
“We are trained nurses with special expertise in cannabis and hemp medicine and can guide you in the direction of a product that’s right for you,” says Chapin. “And we’re CBD users ourselves.”
Oh, glow on, Miss Jodi.
Want to learn more about CBD for skin care and CBD oils and topicals? Book a free consultation with a Green Network Provider today.
