Acne is a common but troublesome skin condition that affects more than 9% of the population. Many of us have experienced acne at some point in our lives and are familiar with how damaging it can be to one’s skin health as well as self image. Acne is believed to be caused by several factors, including genetics, bacteria, underlying inflammation, and the overproduction of sebum – an oily secretion made by the sebaceous glands within the skin. Acne may also be hormonally driven.
Typical practice for avoiding acne includes cleansing the skin to keep it free from acne-causing bacteria and maintaining oil production to avoid clogged or congested pores. One of the best ways to ensure that you are properly cleansing your face every night is doing a “double cleanse”. This entails using an oil or balm cleanser first and following it up with a gel or foaming cleanser. The oil in your first cleanse will remove any makeup, sunscreen, and pollution found on your skin at the end of the day and will even bond to the oil on your face, removing it when you emulsify and rinse. This means that your second cleanse focuses directly on cleansing your skin and clearing out your pores.
So, Is CBD Good for Acne?
If you struggle with severe acne we recommend taking some time to see a dermatologist. However, cannabidiol (CBD) may also be an effective option for managing your acne and preventing future scarring. Recent scientific studies suggest that CBD may help to treat acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to reduce sebum production. Further, its anti-inflammatory properties may also help to prevent future scarring from your current breakouts. Additionally, research has shown CBD’s ability to balance hormone production, thus suggesting that taking CBD orally may be beneficial to those dealing with hormonal acne. You’re still probably wondering how this all works and what the best way to incorporate CBD into your skincare routine is. Read on to find out more.
How to Use CBD for Acne to Control Sebum Levels and Irritation
A recent test-tube study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation found that CBD prevented sebaceous gland cells from secreting excessive amounts of sebum, exerted anti-inflammatory action, and prevented the action of “pro-acne” agents such as inflammatory cytokines. Another study cited similar results – concluding that CBD may be an efficient and safe way to treat acne, particularly due to its remarkable anti-inflammatory properties. These studies also suggested that these anti-acneic properties of CBD could be used both on the face and the body. It is also worth noting that CBD can be effective for many different types of acne, regardless of its origins or what may have triggered it.
This is quite a groundbreaking discovery in the world of skincare. Often the products we use to treat acne are made up of harsh chemicals or rough physical exfoliants that, if overused, will lead to a damaged skin barrier. CBD’s unique anti-acneic properties come with all the benefits of preventing acne without the risk of a damaged skin barrier. You will know your skin barrier is damaged when your skin feels tight, dry, and itchy. Overall, it will be irritated, inflamed, and red. The best way to restore a damaged skin barrier is to scale back your skincare routine and focus on hydrating and soothing ingredients. CBD can also come in handy when dealing with a damaged skin barrier as it’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory – making it irritated skin’s best friend. It is also worth noting that as a powerful antioxidant, when applied topically, CBD can help fight free radical damage to your skin.
Incorporating CBD Lotion for Acne to Your Skincare Routine
So, how does one incorporate CBD lotion for ance into their skincare routine? CBD can theoretically be used in any step of a routine, however, we recommend using a leave-on product to ensure maximum efficacy. A simple way to introduce CBD to your routine is swapping out your current moisturizer for one with a CBD lotion with high CBD content. It is important for everyone to use a moisturizer, even those with oily or acne prone skin. This is because if the skin becomes too dry it will overcompensate and produce too much sebum.
Using CBD for Acne Scars
CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can also help to prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (a type of acne scarring) that often follows a breakout. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation often occurs after a breakout or injury to the skin and results in darkened and discoloured skin. As suggested by the name, this discolouration appears when skin has been severely inflamed and irritated, and if left untreated can last for months. Many people use topical Vitamin C products to fade this scarring, but Vitamin C is often a very unstable ingredient thus is not always effective. Luckily, the use of CBD during a breakout can prevent or greatly reduce the incidence of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Through controlling the response and production of inflammatory cytokines, CBD can greatly reduce the inflammation you experience alongside your acne. This reduced inflammation means there is less of a chance that your breakout will be followed up by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Conclusion
While human studies on CBD’s effect on acne and the skin more broadly are still lacking, we have seen great personal and anecdotal evidence of what CBD can do for your skin – either topically or ingested. By applying a CBD lotion such as our smooth lotion directly to the skin you will enjoy the localized benefits of CBD including its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, targeting acne and other skin issues characterized by inflammation. Further, by taking either a CBD capsule or oil orally you can decrease inflammation on your skin from the inside out. Taking an oral CBD product will also be extremely helpful for those dealing with hormonally-triggered acne. Above all, a dedicated skincare routine is an integral part of managing one’s acne. However, the use of CBD within such a routine has been shown to be effective in controlling sebum and inflammation while posing no harm to your skin barrier.