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Cannabis and Skin Care – A Beautiful & Natural Therapy

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Also known as marijuana, hemp, and many other names, cannabis is generally associated with being an illegal psychotropic drug. Generally, the name cannabis is associated with all negative things. However, following the legalization of cannabis in California in November 2016, the drug has found a new and novel use – in the cosmetic industry. It will come as a surprise to many people to learn that cannabis can now be applied directly to your skin to enhance and improve your skin health. Cannabis has been proven to be effective in the treatment of pain, inflammation, and irritation commonly associated with many skin conditions.

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Cannabis and Skin Care - A Beautiful & Natural Therapy
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Cannabis and Skin Care – A Beautiful & Natural Therapy

Cannabis is known to have strong anti-inflammatory properties. This has made it one of the hottest and in-demand ingredients in the beauty industry at this moment. However, if you think this means you should start smoking cannabis, then that’s not where we are headed. Instead, in order to benefit from cannabis, you will have to slather it on.

For as long as we can remember, cannabis has been known to be one of the most controversial narcotics in the world. However, this scenario is now changing as a large number of beauty and wellness brands are beginning to use cannabis and cannabis-derived ingredients to revolutionize how skin conditions are treated.

There are around 80 different cannabinoids that have already been harvested from the cannabis plant till date. One of the most common and also the most controversial cannabis-derived ingredients that are being used is known as THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is controversial because this is the cannabinoid that gets you high. While cannabis and cannabis-derived ingredients remain banned in many countries, in countries where it is legal, THC has already started showing up in many skin care products, primarily due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Some countries only allow THC is it features in concentrations below 0.3 percent.

On the other hand, another cannabinoid known as cannabidiol (CBD) is also very popular, particularly because it is non-psycho active, meaning it does not make you high. CBD is legal everywhere and is known to have a wide variety of beauty benefits. CBD is, in fact, the primary active ingredient that is used in Body Shop’s Hemp range of products. It might interest you to know that actually, it was the founder of Body Shop, Anita Roddick, who in 1998 first brought cannabis to the mainstream beauty industry and started educating customers on the difference between hemp (industrial-grade cannabis) and marijuana (a form of cannabis commonly smoked by people).

How Does CBD Benefit Your Skin?

Knowing that cannabis is being used in your skincare products, you might feel that applying these products will get you high. Rest assured that cannabis-based beauty products will definitely not get you high. Using CBD-based beauty products are known to have many benefits for your skin. It is known as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic product, so it provides relief from pain, inflammation, and even anxiety. Studies conducted on CBD have shown it to be highly effective in the treatment of schizophrenia, depression, psoriasis, epilepsy, and many other conditions.

CBD is also known to have anti-aging properties when it is combined with hemp seed oil. Hemp seed oil is also one ingredient that is included in many topical CBD products, thus providing anti-aging benefits. The beauty of using hemp seed oil is that while usual skin care products tend to include vitamins E, A, C, omega-3 fatty acids, and other minerals, hemp seed oil contains all these properties. CBD also has antioxidant properties, keeping your skin looking younger, healthier, and glowing. These antioxidant properties help prevent and reverse signs of aging, wrinkles, and even fine lines. What’s more, due to the fact that CBD and hemp seed oil are natural anti-inflammatories, it makes them ideal for fighting acne.

How Do Cannabis Topicals Work?

THC or cannabis oil has now become quite popular in many beauty products. When you use these products topically, what happens is the cannabinoids remain local to the region they have been applied to and start offering a wide variety of benefits includes:

  • Potent anti-aging effects
  • Skin hydration
  • Reducing the sebaceous gland activity, thus helping with acne
  • Improving dull skin
  • And helping with skin problems such as eczema, dandruff, psoriasis, etc.

In fact, research has shown that there are cannabinoid receptors that are found in cells throughout the skin. These receptors are the binding spots for substances such as THC. Our body then makes versions of these cannabis compounds and they are known as endocannabinoids. According to experts, the fact that these receptor cell sites are found throughout our body is an indication of how important endocannabinoids actually are for our basic health and physiological functioning, including the health and functioning of the skin.

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The reason the endocannabinoid system is so important is that it has a diverse number of responsibilities towards our skin. These compounds actually regulate a set of crucial skin functions such as:

  • Inflammation and immune response
  • Oil production
  • Slowing down hair growth

This is why skincare products which target this endocannabinoid system of our body are going to be a successful fundamental element of the future range of cosmetic treatments.

There have been many medical studies that have positively demonstrated the many positive effects of topical CBD on the skin. While the exact effect of THC and the other cannabinoids on the skin are still being studied, many beauty brands have already jumped on the bandwagon of using cannabis products in their skincare products.

So, What Will Be The Final Verdict – To Buy Or Not To Buy?

Cannabis-based beauty products are going to become the norm sooner than later. These products are being touted to be the game changer for the cosmetic industry as more and more scientific studies indicate the benefits of cannabis for your skin.

As soon as the associated vilification fades away from these cannabis-based products, people will become comfortable using the products for the benefits they provide- not just recreational, but medicinal and practical as well. The growth of these health-based cosmetics is going to forever change the beauty industry in the coming years.

References:

  1. Harvard Health Publishing – Cannabidiol (CBD) — what we know and what we don’t Link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476

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Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:August 30, 2023

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