
The Face of Happiness: Hemp Oil for Acne
Studies have shown that cannabis can help people who struggle with psoriasis or eczema. But how is CBD or hemp oil for acne work? Is it the real deal? Let’s dive into this question.
How does acne affect the population in the U.S.?
There are over 50 million people suffering from acne in the United States each year. This phenomenon, of course, has given rise to many over-the-counter and prescription solutions. However, those medications often come with a series of side effects.
On top of that, they are usually manufactured using various chemicals. These, in turn, are responsible for skin irritation and other related problems.
Why do conventional treatments lack efficacy?
Many conventional products for the treatment of acne contain chemicals, such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Both of these can potentially do more harm than good. These chemicals don’t just affect skin with problematic acne, but they also impact surrounding tissues.
This, in turn, results in dryness, irritation, and other forms of damage to otherwise healthy, viable skin.
But what if we could use naturally occurring plant compounds instead of harsh chemicals and physical abrasion?
Can cannabinoids help in the acne treatment?
Truth to be said, acne is one of the most controversial conditions when it comes to cannabis treatments. Some skin care professionals claim that cannabis can actually cause the increase in production of sebum.
However, these claims are supported by the findings of THC which is known to increase the production of oils in the skin. Moreover, THC causes the immediate spike in testosterone levels, which may trigger acne in some individuals.
But how about pure CBD strains and cannabidiol extractions?
CBD & Hemp
Many people have already discovered the skin-care potential of cannabidiol. As a matter of fact, the use of CBD hemp oil for acne is gaining the strong support of both patients and skin care specialists.
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, has been used in numerous medical studies. Recent findings support its potential ability to treat a variety of skin conditions. This includes all types of acne, a skin condition occurring because of the excessive production of sebum.
While your body produces sebum to provide a protective layer and lubrication on the skin’s surface, its excess settles into deeper layers and clogs pores, resulting in acne, blackheads, and associated inflammation.
The benefits of CBD for skin care
The gland responsible for sebum production (sebaceous gland) contains endocannabinoid receptors. These react to both endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids when you administer CBD topically.
When you use CBD hemp oil for acne, the sebaceous gland slows down, thus slowing the production of lipids that clog pores. This effect occurs more on an internal level after the absorption of CBD versus the common external variety of treatment that takes place merely on a surface level with irritating chemicals.
With the transdermal application, CBD can be absorbed into the affected tissue. The presence of phytocannabinoids in CBD is then detected by the sebaceous gland, which reacts accordingly. This is a vast improvement when we compare CBD to topical products that cleanse the surface area with harsh chemicals. Stripping the skin in order to remove excess oil, instead of preventing it.
Bottom line? It seems that the use of CBD for acne is also safe for the surrounding, acne-free tissue, leaving it unaffected and healthy.
Hemp oil for acne as your medication
Another safe, natural option for treating acne is the use of hemp oil, the cousin of CBD. Not only does high-quality hemp oil contain essential omega fatty acids that are good for healthy skin, but it also comes with the gamma linoleic acid – a natural anti-inflammatory beneficial for soothing irritated skin.
The natural lipids found in hemp oil do an outstanding job by cleaning impurities from pores without stripping and drying the skin. It binds with the dirt that is trapped in existing sebum, which is then removed when the hemp oil is wiped away. As a result, the use of hemp oil for acne leaves your skin with a much cleaner surface.
But… Oil? For acne? Seriously?
It sounds a bit counterproductive, but hemp oil is extremely low in comedogenic properties. In other words, it doesn’t clog pores, unlike many other oils. Additionally, hemp oil is a natural humectant, which mimics that of human skin and draws moisture directly into the tissue.
This provides moisturizing effects on a much deeper level than traditional products that simply set on top of the skin. For this reason, hemp oil is not just ideal for the face, but it works extremely well as a full-body moisturizer. Most of the beneficial effects of CBD and hemp oil for acne and general skin are a result of transdermal application and absorption. But the internal use of hemp oil in the form of digestion has positive benefits on your skin as well.
Hemp oil has the ideal ratio of essential fatty acid content: a three to one of omega 3’s and omega 6’s. This makes it a more effective option than the well-established fish oil or flax oil. On top of that, hemp is the only plant source of vitamin D.
When ingested, the natural nutrition content found in high-quality hemp oil can contribute to stronger, shinier hair. It also improves the health of your nails and makes your skin smoother and more elastic.
Final Result
Acne, while not life-threatening, is an extremely prevalent condition that many people across the world find debilitating. It is often a source of low self-esteem, and can severely impact the quality of an individual’s social life, and the overall satisfaction as a result.
With the success found in the use of CBD and hemp oil for acne, many people are reclaiming their confidence and leading more socially active lifestyles. We still need more double-blind clinical trials on this subject matter in order not to rely solely on anecdotal evidence and pre-clinical studies. Yet, current findings show promise for further research, and with the cannabis revolution storming the world, we just need to remain patient.
If you have any questions about the use of CBD oil for acne, feel free to contact our support, or visit our CBD FAQ page for more details about cannabidiol.