Recently we had a customer ask “what is the purpose of CBD in a lip balm?” We had sent him our CBD lip balm to try out and although he was grateful, he just couldn’t see the purpose of CBD in a lip balm. We had a conversation about the skin benefits of CBD and thought it might be helpful to share some of that information with you today.
The Endocannabinoid System
First of all, it’s important to understand the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). The ECS is a system of neurotransmitters throughout the human body which was discovered only in the 1990’s by scientists studying cannabis and THC. In the years since we have learned that the ECS contributes to a number of important functions in the body including pain management, inflammation, sleep, stress, immune system function, skin health and much more.
While there is much to still be learned about the role of the Endocannabinoid System in the human body, we do already know something about cannabinoids from hemp and their effects on the ECS. Cannabinoids are found in cannabis plants and include CBD, CBG, THC and over 100 others. These cannabinoids interact with endocannabinoid receptors throughout the body. Different cannabinoids interact with cannabinoid receptors in the body and produce varying results. The skin is the largest organ in the human body and we already know that there are a large number of cannabinoid receptors in the skin.
Scientific Research – Cannabinoids and Skin Disorders
A 2019 study into the the Endocannabinoid System, the skin and the effect of cannabinoids indicates that the function of endocannabinoid receptors in the skin are key to many aspects of skin health. Imbalance in skin cannabinoid signaling appears to contribute to a number of skin conditions including dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, pigmentation disorders, itchiness and more. This study concluded that CBD was an effective anti-acne agent because of its potent anti inflammatory and anti bacterial effects.
Common skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis are caused by inflammation in the skin. When applied topically, CBD has been shown to effectively reduce inflammation, regulate oil production as well as hydrate dry skin.
Another 2019 study from Italy tested a CBD ointment on a group of 20 volunteers of different ages, who all suffered from moderate to severe skin disorders. The results were clear after 90 days; in every case, the CBD ointment improved skin elasticity and hydration, regulated oil production, reduced inflammation as well as improving the appearance of scars. Amazingly, all this was achieved without any noticeable side effects which are all too common when using pharmaceutical drugs to achieve similar results.
CBD for healthy skin
The studies mentioned above explore the effects of cannabinoids on moderate to severe skin conditions, but high quality CBD topicals can certainly help protect and nurture healthy skin as well. By controlling oil/sebum production, reducing inflammation and exerting anti bacterial effects, CBD topicals play an important role in routine skin care. High quality hemp extracts also contain a range of antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds like terpenes and phenols that contribute to overall skin health.
Today, CBD topicals are mostly used to help manage pain, yet CBD skin care is a fast growing segment as more people discover the amazing benefits of CBD-rich hemp extracts on the skin. When choosing a CBD topical, it is important to be sure you are buying from a reputable company. There are a lot of low quality CBD products on the market including products that claim they contain CBD and products that pretend to contain CBD.
For example, an amazon search for hemp products will bring up thousands of listings that claim “xxxx mg” hemp on their labels. Since CBD is not permitted on Amazon, all these companies are simply taking advantage by using hemp seed oil and passing it off as CBD to the unsuspecting consumer. Hemp seed oil is a great skin care ingredient in its own right, but it contains no CBD and does not provide the benefits of a true cannabinoid rich hemp extract.
When purchasing a true CBD topical, the label should clearly show many milligrams of CBD are included in each bottle and you should be able to easily find out exactly what type of CBD extract is being used. The manufacturer should always provide lab test results proving both potency and purity as well. As the hemp industry rapidly grows and changes, the best thing you can do is to continue to learn and be an informed consumer.
At Welliva, we strongly believe that full spectrum CBD extracts provide more benefit than CBD isolates. We also avoid using parabens, formaldehyde donors, petroleum byproducts and any other harmful chemicals in all our formulations. Click HERE to learn more about natural skin care.
To learn about different types of CBD extracts and the benefits of hemp, please click the links below.