Dry skin is one of the most common skin conditions that exists.
Scaly, itchy, and often cracking skin are all characteristics of dry skin…and it can be experienced on any part of the body.
Most commonly dry skin affects the hands, feet, arms, and legs.
If you’ve ever suffered from dry, itchy skin, you know just how uncomfortable it can actually be.
Want some serious, natural relief?
Look no further than CBD topicals.
Before we get into exactly how CBD works for dry, itchy skin, let’s take a deeper look at dry skin itself.
Dry skin is technically caused by a loss of moisture in the upper layer of the skin.
A number of things can actually lead to dry skin…and anyone can get it.
Following are some of the most common causes of dry skin:
Dry skin can often be relieved by making certain lifestyle changes.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends the following to help with dry skin:
While lifestyle changes can certainly help with dry skin, there are times when dry skin becomes a serious problem and needs professional help.
Extremely dry skin can warrant a prescription cream or ointment.
It can also be an indication of a condition (such as eczema or psoriasis) that may need additional treatment.
Those that do get prescribed a prescription ointment for dry skin are often prescribed a topical steroid (corticosteroids), especially in cases of eczema, dermatitis, and allergic skin reactions.
Other prescriptions for dry skin include immune modulators, such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus.
When used properly, topical steroids rarely lead to side effects. The thing is, they’re only to be used for acute flare ups.
Long-term use or short courses of use repeated too often of these topical treatments for dry skin can lead to some pretty serious side effects.
Some of these include:
It’s easy to see why some people might want a natural option when it comes to treating extremely dry and itchy skin.
Aside from the side effects that can occur when using prescription steroid creams and ointments, many individuals simply prefer a natural option when it comes to skincare.
Skincare products are packed full of synthetic and harmful ingredients.
The skin is extremely absorbent and some of the chemicals and harmful ingredients in many lotions, creams, and ointments can absorb straight into your bloodstream.
Some of the chemicals added to lotions (namely phthalates) have been linked in animal studies to male genital birth defects, decreased sperm counts, and altered pregnancy outcomes.
And while researchers note that there isn’t any definitive evidence in humans, widespread exposure, predominantly to phthalates, is known to occur.
What’s more, is that according to reports by Environment California, The Environmental Working Group, and Friends of the Earth, skin lotion and some other beauty products (makeup, shampoo, nail polish, and more) all contain chemicals that lack safety data.
It’s no wonder that more and more individuals are turning toward natural lotions and beauty products.
And many of them with dry, itchy skin are finding that CBD is doing wonders for their skin.
While there are several factors that can lead to dry skin, how much oil our skin produces has a significant effect on just how dry our skin actually becomes.
The less oil our skin produces, the drier it’s going to be.
In a 2014 study, it was discovered that CBD has a positive effect on the regulation of oil production of our skin.
The study looked at the effects of the non-psychoactive cannabinoid on the sebaceous glands, which control the oil production of the skin.
It found that CBD “behaves as a highly effective sebostatic agent.”
Think of it like this. Sebaceous glands that produce too much oil can lead to the formation of skin conditions like acne.
Sebaceous glands that don’t produce enough oil can lead to dry skin and conditions such as eczema.
In step CBD and its ability to regulate oil production.
Could using a topical CBD cream or ointment help relieve dry skin? You bet it could.
If you’re someone dealing with dry, itchy skin, CBD topicals could become your new go-to for finding lasting (natural) relief.
One of the founders of American dermatology, Dr. Granger Piffard not only founded the Journal of Cutaneous and Venereal Diseases (which is now known as JAMA Dermatology), but also wrote the first textbook of dermatologic therapeutics.
In the textbook, Piffard writes, “a pill of cannabis indica at bedtime has at my hands sometimes afforded relief to the intolerable itching of eczema.”
According to the National Eczema Foundation, cannabinoids have a powerful anti-itch effect, stating that “there are receptors in the skin that interact with cannabinoids that could reduce the symptoms and appearance of atopic dermatitis (AD).”
They also refer to a human trial for patients with AD where an endocannabinoid cream improved the severity of itch and loss of sleep by 60 percent.
By the end of the study, over 30 percent of participants no longer felt the need to continue using their prescription topical steroid cream.
If CBD can work this well for people with eczema, imagine the effects it could have for the average dry skin sufferer.
The skin contains its own endocannabinoid system.
When applying a topical CBD cream, the cannabinoid goes to work directly with the endocannabinoid system in the skin to create a synergistic harmony.
Too little oil production is brought back to a happy medium, bringing an end to dry, flaky skin.
The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of CBD work to calm the body’s immune response.
When applied as a topical, the CBD goes to work directly to offer relief where it’s applied.
In a 2017 study, researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus found that cannabinoids anti-inflammatory properties could be the reason why CBD is so powerful at relieving dry, itchy skin.
“Perhaps the most promising role of cannabinoids,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Robert Dellavalle MD, “is in the treatment of itch.”
He mentioned that in one study, eight of 21 patients that applied a cannabinoid cream twice a day for three weeks completely eliminated severe itching.
He believes the cannabinoid cream reduced the dry skin that caused the itch in the first place.
If you suffer from dry, itchy skin, CBD could be your saving grace. Seriously.
Not only have studies shown that CBD has a positive effect on dry, itchy skin, but topicals are 100% the least intimidating way to take CBD.
Simply rub a CBD topical on your itchy skin like you would any regular old cream. Then let it work its magic.
If you’ve yet to try CBD and have dry, itchy skin, let this be your basic introduction.
You’ve got nothing to lose…except that dry, annoying, itchy, irritated skin.
Have you personally tried CBD for dry, itchy skin? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.
Have questions?
We’re always here to help.
Drop us a comment and we’ll do our best to cover any concerns or queries about using CBD topicals for your dry skin problems.
Always make sure to carefully check the ingredients of any product you use to make sure you are not allergic.
Use a small amount at first to determine compatibility with your skin.
Don’t forget to speak to your dermatologist or primary care doctor first if you have any concerns before using a CBD topical.
They will be able to help you form a strategy on how to incorporate a CBD product into your regimen.
