Useful health tips and CBD remedies for common skin ailments
Winter is upon us, and it’s this time of the year when people commonly experience dry and irritated skin.
CBD has become increasingly popular to treat these skin ailments, and are more widely available today than ever before.
In this article we cover the causes of these extremely common skin conditions and along with that some remedies and proven CBD products to go along with it.
What causes dry skin in winter?
Change of season is always tricky, however dry skin is something extremely common when approaching winter. You can expect cold air, dry indoor heat, low humidity levels and harsh winter wind that all play a role in leaving you with dry and/or cracked skin during the winter months.
It comes down to the simple fact that there is less moisture in one’s skin during winter time than in summer. This is mainly because your skin struggles to keep moisture contained due to the fact that there are also fewer lipids in one’s skin barrier.
Skin lipids = known to create your skin’s moisture barrier.
So even in the case where you do moisturise your skin, it might not stay that way for nearly as long as it would in summer.
Now that we’ve identified what causes common dry skin during winter, let’s look at some beneficial effects of CBD.
CBD and skin health – what’s the link
Not just a miracle cure for dry or cracked skin; CBD helps with a myriad of skin ailments.
First off, it’s important to know that every human has an endocannabinoid system – a complex matrix of cell receptors in your body that are responsible for balancing many key functions of the skin, such as oil production and pigmentation (melanocyte)
And since cannabis (in this case specifically CBD) interacts directly with some of these receptors, it’s no surprise that CBD could prove beneficial to your skin.
We know that CBD has incredible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects – and it’s exactly these anti-inflammatory effects it has on sebocytes that may be the reason for the benefit we draw from CBD in terms of skin health. (More on that below)
Sebocytes are the skin cells that produce sebum – an oily, waxy substance produced by your body’s sebaceous glands that coats, moisturises and protects your skin.
Increasing your skin’s ability to hold moisture is a crucial step in preventing dry skin during winter.
How CBD’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects benefit the skin
- Regulates oil production – A 2014 study recorded evidence that CBD may have anti-inflammatory effects on sebocytes – the skin cells that produce sebum. An overproduction of sebum is believed to be a contributing factor to acne while an underproduction of sebum can cause dry or cracked skin.
- Helps reduce inflammation – CBD is an anti-inflammatory, and as such can reduce swelling, pain, redness from existing breakouts and irritation from skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
- Hydrates the skin – Research from 2019 indicates that CBD may be effective for dry, dehydrated skin.
Reasons to use CBD for dry skin
While research on CBD and its benefits to skin health are still ongoing, it has been concluded that CBD or CBD-infused products can efficiently treat a number of skin conditions.
It is specially noted that the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD could treat Eczema and Psoriasis.
Its role in hydrating the skin also supports the treatments of named skin conditions, including Dermatitis.
CBD can be applied/consumed for the following ailments:
- Dermatitis
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Dry skin
- Cracked skin
- Itchiness
- Inflammation and surface-redness caused by inflammation
- Ageing and wrinkles
- Infections of the skin
CBD has proved to help cure certain skin conditions on-par with commercial medicine, so why not opt for something natural ?
Dr. Nima Gharvi, a dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon at the Cedars-Sinai Cosmetic Dermatology Program says that conditions like Eczema and Psoriasis are currently treated with anti-inflammatory agents, the most common being topical corticosteroids.
Topical steroids, however, can cause side effects on thin skin found around the eyes, armpits, and groin.
So if CBD can produce the same anti-inflammatory effects that support curing these conditions without the notable side effects of topical steroids, it stands as an encouraging new way to treat these ailments.
One step closer to clean, green, CBD health!
Whether you’re dealing with one of the conditions mentioned above or just the general winter dry skin many come to experience, here are a few tangible tips on using CBD for improved skin health.
How to use CBD to achieve healthier skin
CBD comes in a variety of different forms and strengths, but here are the most general forms:
- CBD oil
- CBD oil tinctures
- Capsules
- Edibles (gummies, cookies, bakery treats etc.)
- Topicals (creams, lotions, ointments, and balms)
Generally speaking, topicals can be applied to external dry, itching or cracked skin for quick relief. There are also oils that can be applied externally for eczema and psoriasis.
In certain conditions, CBD oil can be ingested orally – ask your medical professional for specifications on dosage.
Alternatively, you can purchase CBD capsules; mainly available in 5mg – 25mg per capsule strengths. These can differ largely; so be sure to check the content before you make a purchase.
CBD skin benefits
From soothing the skin, making it glow all the way to reducing visible irritation, CBD’s skin benefits are definitely something to consider when you experience symptoms of dry or irritated skin.
- Helps to soothe skin
- Reduces the appearance of irritation
- Reduces eczema and Psoriasis visibly
- Useful for sensitive skin
- Can reduce visible signs of ageing
- May improve acne & acne scars
Best CBD products for skincare
When it comes to your health, it will always be quality over quantity. With all the different variations of products on the market today, it can be important to know what you’re looking for before attempting to buy CBD related products.
Oils
There are 3 types of CBD oil:
- Full-spectrum CBD – Contains all the cannabinoids in the C.Sativa plant, including THC.
- Broad-spectrum CBD – Typically contains all cannabinoids, excluding THC. This is the cannabinoid responsible for creating the typical marijuana ‘high’
*Some products may contain trace quantities of THC.
- CBD isolate – Contains only CBD, no other cannabinoids.
Topicals
CBD topicals like hand & body lotions should mostly be organic and clearly indicate the ingredients on the packaging – check out Sunsate’s CBD hand and body lotion for the perfect gift for someone who is interested in CBD cream for skin health.
It contains only ingredients derived from organic, industrial hemp.
And for those who experience muscle soreness or stiffness after competing in sports, we recommend Full Swing’s Broad spectrum CBD muscle relief gel. This product was specifically designed for PGA athletes with high muscle performance in mind.
