Soak it in: minor cannabinoids may encourage perfect skin

The CBD skincare boon has died down, but researchers are still interested in the potential of cannabinoids for skin conditions. Studies regarding cannabis and skincare are published regularly. Honestly, it can be hard to keep up.

Thankfully, a new study was recently released. The research review takes a look at all dermatological research on cannabinoids like Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), Cannabichromene (CBC), Cannabidivarin (CBDV), Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), and more. Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of the entire body of research available on the topic, sharing findings and limitations.

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Basics of the cannabis skincare review

This synthetic review aims to provide an in-depth look at the safety and efficacy of cannabis for skin conditions. It also covers findings about the therapeutic value and various extraction methods of the compounds. Lastly, researchers hope to identify exactly what is happening when cannabinoids are introduced to the skin.

There are some cannabinoid-related limitations to the review worth mentioning. Most of the studies were in vitro or on animals. This means that it’s impossible to claim whether the results and safety would be duplicated in humans. Legality and lack of standardization also limit how effective research is for application.

Lastly, the study admits, “​​Diverse organismal responses, potential adverse effects, lack of dose standardization, and the possibility of interactions with other medications pose challenges.”

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Despite laying the limitations on thick, the review did have positive conclusions. Researchers state the studies on cannabinoids for acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and allergic contact dermatitis are “numerous.” CBDV, CBC, CBDP, and CBN showed therapeutic potential.

The potential of minor cannabinoids for skin conditions

Studies cited CBDV as having anti-inflammatory properties. These properties help alleviate atopic dermatitis-caused inflammation and swelling. In other research, this quality and the antibacterial components of CBDV played a role in healing acne lesions.

CBDV isn’t the only anti-inflammatory cannabinoid in the bunch. CBC has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Lesser-known Cannabimovone (CBM) and Cannabielsoin (CBE) also have antioxidant properties. All of these minor cannabinoids have shown promise in treating all of the skin conditions listed above.

The cannabinoid CBDP shares the anti-inflammatory effects of its fellow cannabinoids with the addition of pain-relieving and calming properties. Because of this, researchers from this review believe CBDP could be more impactful for acne and psoriasis than CBD and CBG.

CBN has presented pain–relieving and calming effects, with research showing that it could prove effective for atopic and allergic contact dermatitis therapy.

Studies regarding THCV and acne had favorable results, with the cannabinoid possibly regulating sebum production. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties may cleanse bacteria from the skin and reduce the overall puffiness of zits. Studies that support this were conducted on animals, however, supporting the conclusion that more scientific inquiry is needed.

Cannabis could have a positive effect on persistent and uncomfortable skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis, based on this review. The researchers require more human studies and clinical trials before making conclusions. Even though cannabis skincare is no longer trending, cannabis serums may be worth putting in the shopping cart.

Cara Wietstock is Senior Content Producer of GreenState.com and has been working in the cannabis space since 2011. She has covered the cannabis business beat for Ganjapreneur and The Spokesman Review. You can find her living in Bellingham, Washington with her husband, son, and a small zoo of pets.