Claire Levenberg is currently the Research & Development Manager for the iLAVA and iLAVAHEMP Brands and the Director of Science Operations for the Downtown and D2 Dispensaries.
She has been in the medical cannabis industry for 3 years now, with in-depth knowledge of Ethanol Extraction, Fractional Distillation, Butane Extraction, lab operations and requirements, and managing daily productions as well as researching new products. Her interests lie in researching new techniques, product development, and educational outreach.
Claire received her Bachelors of Science from the University of Arizona in Plant Sciences with a focus in Microbiology.
With the skin being vulnerable to multiple skin infections, a major one being acne, more and more people are looking for natural remedies. Both young and old are continuously and relentlessly in the quest to find the perfect solution for the acne problem.
Undoubtedly, there’s nothing as pleasant and fulfilling as having to look at yourself in the mirror and love what you see.
That being said, it’s essential to take note that acne is a major skin problem that both teenagers and adults face today, but the good news is that there is a solution to it.
Research related to acne has revealed that CBD cream can be a suitable remedy and answer to the question that continues to baffle many.
Multiple scientific studies are a hint that topical CBD might help with acne symptoms and ease the tension that many people face regarding the skin issue.
In this article, you will learn more about CBD cream, how it works, its capacity to cure acne, how to use it, and possible side effects.
Table of Contents
Does CBD Cream Work for Acne?
If you have acne, you can consider using CBD products, including creams, to address the skin problem. There are multiple factors that cause acne that is worth exploring. Some of the main ones are:
- dead skin clogging skin pores
- excessive sebum production
- excess bacteria
- excess hormones
When you look at these factors critically, one thing you will realize is that anyone has a likelihood of catching acne because of the natural processes that take place in the body.
It might not be possible for you to stop these processes completely, but there are steps that a person can take to regulate them.
Essentially, acne appears when excess oil, dead skin cells, and dirt block pores.
Once the bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes, build upon the skin pores, red blemishes appear. This is what CBD cream seeks to take care of. Basically, much of acne treatment requires one to keep the skin clean, which ensures that the acne-causing bacteria are put at bay. Moreover, it involves reducing the oil that often clogs up the skin.
With respect to the extensive research conducted surrounding CBD, as a viable component for skincare, CBD cream has the capacity to stop the processes that cause acne to a certain extent.
Excess build-up of oil on the skin is one of the processes that CBD cream can stop.
According to the Journal of Clinical Investigation in 2014, researchers assert that CBD inhibits oil production and also contains anti-inflammatory outcomes on oil-producing glands which can directly influence acne and other skin disorders.
The study published by the journal also found out that CBD can soothe the skin by reducing breakouts and a lessening of redness. Indeed, medical practitioners assert that research on the topic of CBD cream on acne is not yet complete.
Still, the potential of this product being an alternative to conventional treatment is promising to the people who suffer from it. Such scientific evidence suggest that CBD creams actually works as a treatment for acne.
How Does CBD Cream Affect Acne?
The answer to this fundamental question is that CBD cream contains cellular anti-acne effects that are significant in treating acne. According to 2008 scientific research published by the FASEB Journal, CBD cream can facilitate the following actions aimed at reducing the effects of acne on the skin:
- Endogenous cannabinoids are acting on CB2 receptors. The usage of CBD cream helps in slowing down the actions of the endogenous cannabinoids, thus helping to cure acne. In other words, CBD cream adjusts the way the body produces sebum.
- The application of CBD cream on the body has a strong antibacterial effect that helps to kill the acne-causing bacteria in the affected area.
- Anti-inflammatory effects, as a result of CBD cream, make it possible to reduce increased levels of inflammation by pro-acne agents.
Moreover, a 2015 study conducted by the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology of Pakistan sought to find out how effectively the amount of sebum produced in the body could be reduced significantly.
The test was done on the cheeks of patients by applying two sets of creams. One of the creams contained the CBT component while the other didn’t. The treatment involved the use of the two creams twice a day for twelve weeks.
After every two weeks, the researchers were recording the amount of sebum produced. The conclusion from the research was that the cream containing the CBT extract was able to reduce more sebum compared to the one that had no extract.
Further significant results from the research found out that the patients did not have any side effects from the usage of the CBT cream. Therefore, from the study, the researchers found out that CBT cream has the capacity to treat skin diseases like acne.
How About Body Acne?
Just like in facial acne, which most people seek treatment for, body acne can also find CBD cream being a viable therapyand relief some of the symptoms.
It’s important to take note that body acne manifests in the same mechanisms as facial acne.
In this case, if you have acne on other parts of your body, maybe on your back, you can still apply CBD cream and enjoy the benefits thereof.
Although, most CBD skincare products might not be specifically targeting people with body acne, the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial attributes provide significant benefits that help relieve your worries.
Is CBD Cream An Option For Acne Scars?
For people who have been having acne scars and have been wondering whether CBD cream is a feasible remedy, the answer is an emphatic yes.
First, let’s understand why acne scars form.
The cause of this skin condition is the disruption of the skin by inflamed pimples and skin picking. Studies affirm that you can use CBD cream for acne scars and expect positive results after a while.
Of course, you don’t expect to see results instantly. It will take some time for the expected results to begin manifesting.
In a study published by the journal La Clinica Terapeutica in 2019, 20 participants having scars were monitored for a period of three months.
During the three months, they were applying CBD ointment to the affected areas twice a day. After the end of the three months, the participants showed great skin improvement .
The researchers conducting the study affirmed that, indeed, CBD ointment had a profound impact on the elimination of the acne scars. Moreover, the study revealed that the usage of topical CBD products significantly improved the appearance of the skin in areas like hydration and elasticity.
From this study, it’s evidently clear that you can use CBD cream for acne scars. Topical CBD can help reduce acne scars significantly. If this is a skin problem that you have battled with for a while, consider using the CBD product to improve your skin’s appearance.
How to Use CBD Cream to Relief Acne
There are various ways that people use to get CBD into the body to allow it to function as a skin therapy.
One of the better ways to do this is through topical application on the skin. This is where CBD cream comes in handy as a cure for acne.
In fact, creams are a highly preferred choice because CBD oil is permeable. This means that it can enter the skin quite easily. Consequently, it makes it possible for the CBD component to interact with receptors in the body to function as a treatment for acne.
When CBD and other essential oils move into the sebaceous gland, they act as integral elements in the treatment of acne.
So, when you apply CBD cream on acne, the interaction helps to reduce its effect on the affected area. Here are 3 main tips when using CBD ointments:
- For effective results consider applying the cream twice a day (in the morning and before going to bed).
- It’s highly advisable that you wash your skin and make sure that it’s dry before you apply the CBD cream.
- Also, as a way of increasing the effectiveness of the treatment, persons affected by acne should check their diet as they continue to use CBD cream.
Further Advices
According to a study published by the Dermato-endocrinology journal in 2009, research shows that the internal imbalances in the body manifest on the skin.
This means that there are foods that people who are often affected by acne should avoid.
Some of these foods include:
- milk and milk products
- fried foods
- meat
- canned foods
In order to boost positive results upon the usage of topical CBD to treat acne, it’s prudent for you to check your diet as well.
What is a good topical CBD to treat Acne?
iLAVEHEMP Touch cream is a purpose-formulated CBD ointment that those suffering from acne can consider using to relief the symptoms.
It contains 11 essential oils, some of which are a great boost to the treatment of acne and dozens of other skin conditions.
Additionally, the cream has 100% natural components with proven healing benefits, tested on humans.
This is making Touch an excellent choice for the health of your skin.
Are There Any Side Effects?
As you ask yourself whether CBD cream can cure acne, you might also be asking whether there are any side effects associated with its use.
A 2017 research published by the journal of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research found out that CBD has some side effects but, generally, it has a good safety profile.
The researchers came out with the following conditions as the side effects of using CBD products:
- appetite changes
- fatigue
- diarrhea
However, it’s worth pointing out that these side effects majorly affected the people who ingested CBD products.
Those who apply it on the skin did not have the side effects. In the case of a CBD cream, which is applied topically, it’s certainly safe to use it.
Nevertheless, body reactions to creams are different; thus, there is a possibility of one experiencing an allergic reaction to CBD cream.
In case of symptoms like itching, skin peeling, or even swelling of the skin upon application of CBD cream, this shows that one has an allergic reaction to the product.
It’s prudent for one to wash the affected area with soap and then stop using the CBD product. The bottom line here is that using CBD cream to cure acne is safer compared to other CBD products because of its mode of use. This gives many people the confidence that they can use it to improve their skin without the risk of side effects.
Conclusion
Acne can significantly affect one’s self-esteem and, as a result, hold back his or her social abilities.
However, those suffering from acne can find relief in knowing that there are promising research findings that position CBD cream as a viable option for the ease of the skin condition.
With the backing of research, cannabidiol has shown remarkable benefits that deal with the common skin condition effectively.
It’s because of this that an increasing number of people are turning to CBD cream to improve the appearance and health of their skin. With the use of CBD cream, a person will experience a reduction in the production of acne-causing bacteria and also a decrease in the production of sebum.
Last but not least, science is yet to fully prove cannabinoids full effect on acne so we don’t make any claims or assurances for CBD being a universal solution to the condition!
Our last advice for you is to always consult your doctor or medical practioner before using any CBD product and take the necessary actions should any unwanted side effects occur.
- Ali, A. & Akhtar, N (2015). The safety and efficacy of 3% Cannabis seeds extract cream for reduction of human cheek skin sebum and erythema content. COMSATS Institute of Information Technology. 28(4):1389-95.
- Dobrosi N, et al. (2008). Endocannabinoids enhance lipid synthesis and apoptosis of human sebocytes via cannabinoid receptor-2-mediated signaling. FASEB J., 22(10):3685– 3695. doi: 10.1096/fj.07-104877.
- Iffland K, et al. (2017). An update on safety and side effects of cannabidiol: A review of clinical data and relevant animal studies. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 2(1) 139-154. DOI: 10.1089/can.2016.0034
- Olah A, et al. (2014). Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and anti-inflammatory effects on human sebocytes. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 124(9) 3713-3724. DOI: 10.1172/JCI64628.
- Pappas, A. (2009). The relationship of diet and acne. Dermato-endocrinology, 1(5) 262-267.
- Palmieri B, et al. (2019). A therapeutic effect of CBD-enriched ointment in inflammatory skin diseases and cutaneous scars. La Clinica Terapeutica, 170 (2). DOI: 10.7417/CT.2019.2116.
Attila Oláh, Balázs I. Tóth, István Borbíró, Koji Sugawara, Attila G. Szöllõsi, Gabriella Czifra, Balázs Pál, Lídia Ambrus, Jennifer Kloepper, Emanuela Camera, Matteo Ludovici, Mauro Picardo, Thomas Voets, Christos C. Zouboulis, Ralf Paus, and Tamás Bíró. J Clin Invest. (2014) Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes DOI: 10.1172/JCI64628
- Kinga Fanni Tóth, Dorottya Ádám, Tamás Bíró, and Attila Oláh. Molecules. (2019). Cannabinoid Signaling in the Skin: Therapeutic Potential of the “C(ut)annabinoid” System DOI: 10.3390/molecules24050918
- Rose McKeon Olson, MD, Eve Rittenberg, MDEve Rittenberg, MD. Why are women using CBD products — and do they work? November 18 (2019)