The appearance of your skin is a major factor in looking and feeling young. CBD oil can help to keep your skin looking its best and functioning at its youngest.
CBD Oil
CBD Oil, or cannabidiol is one more than 60 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant, commonly known as marijuana. The cannabinoids are active ingredients (along with more than 420 others) in the plant that have can affect our health and well-being. The best-known representative of the cannabinoid group is THC which gives marijuana its psychoactive “high”. CBD is not psychoactive but it does have remarkable properties that can be beneficial in a variety of applications.
CBD works with endocannabinoid receptors all over our body, including in the brain. We also have a number of these receptors as part of our immune system, of which our skin is a major player. The benefits of CBD to our skin are still being studied but the results so far have been impressive.
The Legal Status of CBD Oil
Cannabis sativa plants come in two general groups – marijuana which contains more than 0.3% THC and hemp which contains less than 0.3% THC. The US federal government lists marijuana and its products (anything made from the stem and leaves of marijuana) as Schedule I controlled substances, while products made from the same part of the hemp plant are not controlled substances. Added to this is that 29 states so far have legalized marijuana for either recreational or medical use or both, making the regulatory regime for CBD oil fragmented, uncertain and confusing. Some other nations either have no laws relating to marijuana-based products, have fully legalized them or have a regulatory regime dealing with them.
Because of the legal status of CBD, many doctors have relied on anecdotal evidence by their patients for what works and what does not. Despite the confusing area of law, there are a number of studies available which increasingly point to the benefits of CBD oil.
Growing Interest in CBD Oil
Despite this, interest in CBD oil has grown exponentially in recent years and more and more people want to buy CBD oil for a large variety of health uses. This is because of the number of beneficial effects of the oil on our bodies. Early results in a variety of studies have found that CBD oil can treat anxiety, PTSD, cancer pain, chronic pain, epilepsy, insomnia and addiction. Very early results of studies have also suggested that CBD oil may play a beneficial role in managing at least one of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
CBD oil hasn’t only held out promise for serious illnesses, conditions and addictions but studies have shown that CBD oil is beneficial to people who suffer from acne, eczema and other skin conditions.
CBD and Eczema
CBD can interact with receptors in the skin which could in turn reduce the symptoms and appearance of eczema. In particular studies have demonstrated that CBD can inhibit the production of cytokine and chemokine while encouraging the production of T-regulatory cells to suppress inflammation.
Secondly, CBD can manage the colonization of staphylococcus aureus, it both complicates and drives eczema. All five of the cannabinoids show potent activity against many strains of S. aureus. More research in this area is required however.
Also, in a study involving rats and arthritis, transdermal application of cannabinoids was found to reduce pain and inflammation. It found that cannabinoids are hydrophobic are not readily bioavailable when taken orally, so that the topical administration of these molecules was effective without any associated gastrointestinal issues. Other studies have demonstrated that CBD in particular can be taken orally and topically without significant side effects.
In a human trial, topical cannabinoids were an effective eczema treatment that reduced itching and sleeplessness by 60% in trial patients. 20% of these patients were able to stop their topical immunomodulators, 38% stopped taking their oral antihistamines and 33.6% felt they could stop their topical steroid mediation by the conclusion of the study.
Other studies have shown that CBD oil can also benefit acne, psoriasis and contact dermatitis, to keep our skin in the best condition that it can be in. With studies such as these, it is no surprise that consumers wish to buy CBD oil for their skin care needs.
CBD and Acne
There have been more and more consumers looking to buy CBD oil to treat acne. Studies have demonstrated that CBD reduced inflammation and can control the overproduction of sebum in hair follicles. Sebum is the natural oil that is produced to lubricate hair. When it is over-produced, it can cause dead skin cells, dirt, makeup, and contaminants to become sticky and clog the pore, resulting in acne. Acne breakouts can cause the skin to become inflamed, worsening the condition.
Acne scarring and dark spots can significantly reduce the youthful, healthy appearance of our skin.
CBD oil acts to treat two aspects of acne – the sebum and the inflammation, helping to smooth out the skin and allow it to heal.
CBD and Psoriasis
Psoriasis is the overproduction of keratin in the skin, causing an inflamed and scaly condition that is extremely uncomfortable for patients.
As we have already seen, CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. In a study from 2007, cannabinoids were also found to help control the production of keratin, which can lead to improvement in psoriasis symptoms and discomfort.
CBD and Melanogenesis
Melanogenesis plays an important role in protecting our skin from the seemingly endless stresses it is exposed to every day from ultraviolet radiation to pollution to contaminants we may come in daily or occasional contact with and oxidation stressors all of which can cause our skin to age much earlier than it could.
A study has shown that the endocannabinoid system, which CBD interacts with by triggering its function, can boost melanogenesis to improve that protection. Further study is required to determine how CBD interacts in this process in order to develop treatments and protective products for our most important layer. This study suggests that a CBD based sunscreen may well be in the future.
CBD-Based Skin Care Products
CBD is beneficial for multiple skin conditions. Many skin conditions are the result of some failure in the immune system in our skins, an overreaction of the immune system or a normal reaction that affects the appearance of the skin. CBD works to activate our own endocannabinoid system to control and improve these conditions, improving the health and appearance of the skin. Healthy, smooth skin is the primary signal of youth. So, buy CBD oil and look young forever is not as unrealistic as it may appear at first blush.
More and more companies are offering CBD containing skin care products to their customers. According to an article in Forbes Magazine, the CBD market is primed to hit $1 billion by 2020, as consumers become more and more aware of this beneficial molecule.
You can buy CBD oil products from dispensaries, in places where they are legal (if made from marijuana) and online. CBD oil products come as an oil, tinctures, creams, patches and edibles, among other products. With increasing numbers of mainstream beauty companies interested in or planning on entering into the CBD product industry consumers will be able to buy CBD oil in even greater variety.