Photo courtesy of Kimzy Nanney.
Authors of a new report on cannabinoids and atopic dermatitis—also called eczema—say their study demonstrated that an ointment including cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) was “effective in reducing itching and improving the quality of life of patients…leading to symptom remission in some cases.”
Published in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, the original research looked a number of metrics of skin health, including hydration sebum level and pH, in nine adult patients diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (AD).
The transdermal ointment was used as an alternative “to conventional auxiliary therapies during both flare-ups and remission” from May to July 2022, the team wrote. “The results we achieved included improved skin hydration, sebum level, and TEWL [water loss] as well as reduced erythema [redness] in the studied areas (forearms).”
AD, or eczema, “is the most common, chronic, and relapsing non-contagious inflammatory skin condition,” authors noted.
The ointment itself consisted of 30 percent CBD, 5 percent CBG, hemp seed oil and cholesterol. Patients were instructed to “apply a generous layer of the ointment to the same site (the forearms) once daily before sleep and to cover the area with a wet wrap dressing to enhance its effectiveness and protect bedsheets,” the report says.
Photos and other metrics observed a marked improvement in skin appearance and health over a three-month period. Authors wrote that their preliminary analysis of the results “showed that the topical delivery of the ointment compounded with Cannabis Sativa L. var. sativa oil, cholesterol ointment, 30% CBD, and 5% CBG led to the remission of skin lesions on the forearms of the included patients.”
Patients who better adhered to the treatment regimen, they added, demonstrated greater improvement.
“In the course of the therapy, patients adhering to the topical cannabinoid regimen achieved satisfactory skin parameters, including normal hydration and sebum levels, as well as improved TEWL and erythema,” the study says, “as opposed to patients who reported failure to comply with the regimen owing to the fatty texture of the formulation, despite the instructions they received.”
Authors—a five-researcher team from the Medical University of Silesia in Poland and De Montfort University of Leicester in the U.K.—noted that one complication of the findings may be that the study was “performed from May to July 2022, [a season] when AD frequently enters remission.”
The new research comes on the heels of another recent study suggesting CBD could be a useful addition to certain skin products given its anti-aging and antioxidant properties as well as evidence that it may speed the healing of wounds.
Authors of that study—from Prince of Songkla University and the National Science and Technology Development Agency, in Thailand—wrote that CBD appeared to influence a range of skin processes, making it “an appealing natural ingredient for the development of cosmeceuticals.”
“Overall, we suggest that CBD exhibits many potential characteristics that can be used to develop topical cosmeceutical products, such as sun protection products, hair care products, or wound healing products,” the study said.
A separate study published last year into cannabinoids therapy and skin wounds, meanwhile, found that cannabis oil may help promote wound healing, noting “promising benefits” despite a need to better optimize product formulations.
Another paper, published last July in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, found that applying CBD-infused lotion to the skin appeared to be tied to a lower risk of damage from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Researchers at George Washington University, Northwestern University, the University of Miami and the Center for Clinical and Cosmetic Research wrote that 21 percent of those who used the CBD cream had less damage than the control group that received a placebo. Another 47 percent had comparable damage, and 11 percent showed better results after taking the placebo versus the cannabis lotion.
The possible benefits aren’t limited to human applications.
A separate study, published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science last year, concluded that cannabis appears to be a “viable alternative” treatment option for dogs suffering from a common skin disease—especially if they experience adverse side effects from conventional steroid therapies
That study detailed the efficacy of full-spectrum CBD oil on a dog with the autoimmune disease discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). The condition, which causes hair loss and redness that could progress to lesions, is typically treated with corticosteroids and other medications that can put a strain on a dog’s liver.
A veterinarian prescribed a full-spectrum oil with a 2:1 THC:CBD ratio, which was administered orally—at first, one drop per day for three days and gradually increasing it “until the optimal dose for symptom control was identified.”
“Within a few weeks, the dog exhibited significant improvement in dermatological signs, accompanied by a concurrent improvement in liver function,” the study said. “Interestingly, the owner reported an improvement in the dog’s behavior shortly after discontinuing prednisolone and within the first day of receiving the cannabis oil.”
Photo courtesy of Kimzy Nanney.
Ben Adlin via (https://www.marijuanamoment.net/an-ointment-with-the-marijuana-components-cbd-and-cbg-can-effectively-treat-symptoms-of-eczema-study-shows/)
Keep out of reach of children. For use only by adults 21 years of age and older.
