HOW TO USE CBD CREAM ON YOUR SKIN (TOPICAL CBD)
Cannabis extracts have been used topically to relieve pain and treat skin rashes in India and Latin America for hundreds of years.
CBD skin products come in ointments, salves, and lotions.
They are not psychoactive and can be used to treat pain, inflammatory skin rashes, and bacterial skin infections.
topical benefits of cbd cream & cbd lotion
CBD and cannabis products made for skin application have a wide possibility of use:
- Joint pain (arthritis pain)
- Joint swelling
- Chronic pain
- Inflammatory skin conditions
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
- Itchy Rashes
- Bacterial infections (MRSA)
- Neck and back pain
- Contact dermatitis
- Acne
- Nerve pain
Topical CBD seems to be one of the most versatile applications for this already very versatile compound.
Weekly it seems we hear from people who have had no luck with conventional medicine:
how does cbd work on the skin?
The endocannabinoid system is thought to play an important role in the immune response of our skin.
An improper immune response can result in inflammation and this is why CBD is being researched as an anti-inflammatory for inflammation-related skin conditions.
Other important functions of the endocannabinoid system in the skin include regulation of cell growth and wound healing.
Both CB1 and CB2 receptors have been found throughout the skin.
Due to the fact that your skin Is the largest organ in the human body, it makes sense that by applying a topical lotion to your skin that you will benefit from CBD and other ingredients that are in your topical CBD product.
When you apply your CBD lotion onto your skin the CBD is absorbed into your skin along with the additional ingredients in your lotion. It’s not any different than when you use face cream or sunscreen.
Since CBD lotion is applied to a specific location on your body, the benefits that the CBD are bringing to your body are hyper-focused on the area that you applied the CBD lotion.
If you tend to get arthritis in a knee or a shooting pain in your neck, CBD lotion can be used to focus the CBD to an exact location of the body.
The skin is excellent at absorbing and delivering nutrients from lotions or oils that are applied to it,and in this case, the CBD that is in your product gets absorbed as well.
are there side effects of using cbd on the skin?
CBD and cannabis skin products are generally safe to apply liberally to the skin and are not likely to cause side effects.
Even if the product contains THC, psychoactivity is not likely with this delivery method.
However, it is very important that you test a small amount on your skin first before applying liberally to the affected area.
Allergic reactions have occurred and you need to test yourself to see if you are allergic to whatever product you are using.
It’s also not recommended to use CBD skin products that contain alcohol as this could make some skin conditions worse.
If you do have an allergic reaction, it may not necessarily be an allergic reaction to CBD or one of the cannabinoids.
Instead, you may be having an allergic response to an additive in the product you are using.
Check product labels and try to find products that only contain CBD, cannabinoids, and the base that acts as the carrier – i.e. coconut oil or hempseed oil.
how should i use cbd on my skin?
Always speak with a doctor before using CBD, especially if you already take other medications.
CBD can cause drug interactions.
You likely do not need to worry about drug interactions when using CBD topically but we always recommend speaking with your doctor and/or dermatologist.
After making sure you are not allergic, you can liberally apply CBD lotion to any place you have pain or skin irritation.
People with arthritis pain have reported fast relief by applying cannabinoid-rich topical products directly to an inflamed and painful joint.
CBD lotions and balms can be used on the hands, knees, feet, back, and neck.
There is also growing evidence that CBD might be effective for the treatment of psoriasis as well. See this article on the subject: CBD for Psoriasis: The Latest Research.
While it’s generally recommended to stick to external use only, some people have reported CBD lotion to be effective for treating hemorrhoids
Mixing different delivery methods of CBD is common and people have reported success with using topical applications at the same time as a tincture or vape product for faster relief of their symptoms.
what terpenes are good for cbd topical applications?
Look for B-caryophyllene and pinene.
These terpenes are anti-inflammatory and work synergistically with THC and CBD.
what are studies saying about using cannabinoids (cbd and thc) for topical applications?
- When CBD gels were applied to rats with arthritic knee joints, their was found a reduction in join swelling
- Topical application of THC was found to decrease allergic inflammation in a model of eczema
- Five major phytocannabinoids (CBD, THC, CBG, CBN, and CBC) showed potent activity against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- Topical cannabinoid extracts demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory animal experiments
