The Skin Science Behind CBD Skincare
This sweet little newly discovered molecule has swooped into our cultural awareness, our healthcare system, and is now taking skincare by storm. It’s in almost everything from moisturizers to cleansers, lip balms to bath products, and more.
Before we discuss the benefits of CBD for skin and the reasons CBD and skincare products work so nicely, let’s discuss what this little molecule is…exactly.
What is the Basic Science of Cannabinoids?
CBD (cannabidiol), a cannabinoid first isolated in 1963 by Israeli scientist Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, is found in both the cannabis and hemp plants. This is because both of these plants stem from the same family tree; the Cannabaceae family of flowering plants. Although both plants come from the same family, they’re very different plants. The simplest way to describe their difference is in terms of the cannabinoid THC (tetrahydrocannabinol); Hemp plants contain less than .03% THC, cannabis plants contain more than .03% THC.
And of course, this little difference: THC gets you high, CBD doesn’t.
Cannabinoids are a class of diverse chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors within our body, also known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
You can think of the ECS as a balancing mechanism that supports homeostasis. It has been described as a “lock and key” system in that cannabinoids essentially “unlock” a receptor, causing a series of reactions throughout our body.
Our body actually produces its own cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids (endo meaning endogenous or internal in origin), when we need them to help support homeostasis within our body.
But sometimes our body’s homeostasis is dysregulated, and our endocannabinoid system needs a bit of support. This is when we reach for a phytocannabinoid (phyto meaning from the plant), like CBD to help support homeostasis.
What Benefits does CBD have for Skin?
You might be wondering exactly how CBD can help regulate homeostasis and treat so many different conditions.
CBD has been used for centuries by healers to successfully relieve pain and treat many different skin conditions from eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.
Modern science is now starting to uncover what healers have known for generations: CBD carries what scientists call a “pleiotropic effect”, which means CBD has the ability to do more than one thing at a time.
Although the science is in its infancy stages in terms of fully understanding exactly why and how extensively CBD can be used to support and regulate our body’s homeostasis, what we do know for sure is that CBD is what science calls a “promiscuous chemical”. This means CBD can fit into many different receptors systems located within our body and affect each one differently through multiple molecular pathways.
This is why CBD seems to be used in so many different healthcare and topical products.
Initial studies reveal CBD is shown to treat everything from insomnia, anxiety, and pain, to combatting inflammation and carrying analgesic qualities.
Specifically, in terms of your skin, there is actually an abundant distribution of cannabinoid receptors in skin nerve fibers and mast cells.
According to a recent study in the Journal of Dermatological Studies, these cannabinoid receptors found in the skin nerves and mast cells suggest CBD’s broad therapeutic potential.
Mast cells aren’t talked about often, but are key players in inflammatory responses, as they can be activated to release a wide variety of inflammatory mediators.
Inflammatory mediators are responsible for inflammation, which leads to acne, psoriasis, and eczema, to name a few.
According to the National Eczema Association, “Cannabinoids represent an exciting prospect for the future of AD [atopic dermatitis] therapy. With measurable anti-itch, anti-pain, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties, the effect of cannabinoids in patients with AD has already begun to be demonstrated.”
And a recent study out of the University of Modena, Italy titled, ‘The Therapeutic Effect of CBD-Enriched Ointment In Inflammatory Skin Diseases And Cutaneous Scars’ concluded topical CBD is, “a safe and effective non-invasive alternative for improving the quality of life in patients with some skin disorders, especially on the inflammatory background.” The study included 20 psoriasis, eczema, or scarring patients who found a CBD ointment improved measures of skin hydration (by moisturizing and preventing water loss), boosted elasticity in the skin, and in general bettered their quality of life.
Along with being a new therapy for inflammatory skin diseases, CBD is also being studied for and used in the treatment of acne. In June of 2019, The American Society for Microbiology released preliminary research, ‘Cannabidiol is a Powerful New Antibiotic’ finding topical CBD may help kill a, “a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria” which is a cause of acne.
All of this new research adds up to an exciting landscape for CBD and skincare products.
It’s important to know that CBD products are generally safe, and early research suggests they may make a difference in how your skin looks and feels. If you’re interested in trying CBD skincare products, here are a few things you’ll want to know before you buy your first product.
How to choose a good quality CBD skincare product?
CBD topicals come in many forms, from lotions and balms to skin and hair care products.
Whichever product you choose, you’ll want to make sure you are actually getting a high-quality CBD in your product.
To ensure your CBD is high quality, ask to see a Certificate of Analysis (COA).
For example, all our Satori Care Naturals skincare products come with a COA.
This is a lab test report provided by a licensed independent lab that breaks down exactly what is in a CBD product. The COA will ensure your product does not contain heavy metals, toxins or heavy solvents. It will also ensure you of the actual amount of CBD in your product.
You’ll also want to make sure your CBD product is organically grown. This is because hemp is a natural bioremediatory, meaning the hemp plant draws toxins and metals from the soil: an ingenious ability if your goal is to clean up the soil. It is not desirable if you plan to make CBD from hemp grown in toxic soil.
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