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Is CBD skincare worth the hype?

Is CBD skincare worth the hype?

Feeling self-conscious about your skin is not a matter of vanity, but about feeling confident in yourself. To varying degrees, nearly everyone has experienced some kind of skin condition in their life, and consequently experienced the anxiety stemming from the societal pressure to achieve the unrealistic vision of flawless skin. The search for the answers to all our questions in the form of the perfect cure is ongoing, however skin product manufacturers are increasingly taking advantage of the natural anti-inflammatory quality of CBD to treat conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis.

Acne

Acne is an inflammatory condition that causes spots usually on the face, back, shoulders, neck, chest and upper arms. It is linked to hormone regulation and is caused from excess oil, dirt or dead skin cells clogging pores. Acne affects around 95% of people aged 11-30 in the UK. Recent research has concluded that CBD is a “promising therapeutic agent” for acne treatment due to its ability to work as an anti-inflammatory, as well as being able to reduce an excessive build-up of oil. However, the acne related anxiety does not disappear when the acne subsides as people are often left with scarring. So, how does CBD help your skin post-acne? A recent study carried out by the Clinica Terepeutica has shown that participants applying CBD products twice a day for 3 months showed improved appearance and hydration of their skin. Although the study was small and was not specifically focused on acne scars, it would suggest that a similar result could be expected.

Psoriasis

The exact cause of psoriasis is still being debated amongst scientists, but it is known that the immune system plays a large part in its development. It causes skin cells to grow at an abnormally fast rate which forms the psoriasis lesions. CBD is able to connect closely with the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which helps keep many aspects of your body ticking and helps maintain balance, including your immune system. This allows CBD to reduce this excess skin growth and reduce inflammation.

Eczema and itchy skin

The most common form of eczema is atopic eczema with symptoms that include dry, irritated, itchy or cracked skin. The skin is the protective barrier for our body to the outside world and when it is not able to function at its peak, it results in an imbalance that causes eczema. A 2005 study highlighted that 81% of participants with itchy skin experienced a complete relief from symptoms when using CBD cream. As previously explained, the CBD’s interaction with the ECS is crucial to maintaining balance, or homeostasis, in the body and an article in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) explained the ability of the CBD to switch off the signals that itchy skin sends to the brain.

Things to consider

As with all advice relating to CBD, it is vital that you ensure that you are using high quality products to prevent the benefits of CBD being reversed by unwanted toxins, metals and other skin irritation contaminants. Nutrivive ensures that all our products are correctly labelled and third part tested so that you can experience the benefits with complete confidence.

CBD is deemed low-risk in terms of side effects. Some mild symptoms that have been identified in a small number of users are fatigue and changes in appetite, however this is uncommon. In some cases, CBD could interfere with prescription medicine so we would always recommend that you consult your GP if you have any doubts as to whether CBD is safe for you to use. You should also be aware of any medications or supplements that have a 'grapefruit warning' as they both interfere with enzymes that are vital for drug metabolism.

Another question arises as to whether CBD oil is the best product for treating skin conditions. According to Mary’s Nutritionals’ Chief Scientist, Jeremy Riggle, Ph.D., suggests that a moisturising cream containing CBD is most effective for treating skin conditions as it will work together with the other products in the cream to produce the best effects and relieve symptoms.

Final thoughts

As CBD is relatively new to the market, we are still discovering all the benefits that it can unlock with regards to relieving the symptoms of skin conditions. High quality research is continually being carried out and expanding our knowledge of its potential.

If you have any further queries that you feel that we haven’t touched on in this blog, reach out to us – we are here to help and make you feel at ease with the products that best suit you.