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The Best New Ways to Get the Benefits of CBD for Your Skin

Did you know that you can get the benefits of CBD– through your skin? It’s true. The skin is actually the largest organ of the human body, and it contains both CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are the cells that allow CBD and other cannabinoids to interact with the body’s own endocannabinoid system.

Hemp CBD skincare
CBD has anti-inflammatory, anti-acne, antibacterial, and anti-itch properties1 so applying it via your skin just makes sense!

The skin can be a vehicle for CBD in two different ways – topically and transdermally.

What's the difference between topical and transdermal?

While the words “topical” and “transdermal” both refer to products that are applied to the skin, they are not the same. 

A topical product is rubbed onto the surface of the skin and provides benefits and relief only to the area onto which it’s applied. It does not enter the bloodstream. Examples of topical products are balms, lotions, creams, and soaps. 

A transdermal product is applied to the skin but is delivered via a mechanism that actually directs the active ingredient into the bloodstream. Medicinal patches are a type of transdermal product.

Is one better than the other? Well, it depends on what you need them for. If you are looking for systemic relief, a transdermal product might be right for you– although taking a product orally or sublingually works just as well.

However, if you want to target one specific area of your body, a topical product will do that for you. Another nice thing about topicals is that they provide instant relief to the targeted area. Also, you can apply them as much as you want throughout the day without worrying about them entering your bloodstream. 

CBD is now available in many different topical formulations, including balms, lotions, creams, and soaps. Read on to learn the difference, and decide which one (or all?) might be right for you!

Topical CBD can be applied directly to specific areas of the body such as your neck, shoulder, elbow, lower back, hip, or knee.

CBD Balm

A balm is a thick formulation of butters, oils, and/or waxes that starts as a solid but melts into a liquid when applied to the skin. 

Balms contain no water, so they need no preservatives. Their lack of water also means that they do not evaporate off the skin as quickly as other products and can help lock in moisture.

A CBD balm might be best for you if:

  • You have tight, sore muscles
  • You want to target a few specific areas of your body
  • You prefer products with no preservatives

How does CBD balm work?

Applying CBD balm is easy. Gently rub the balm into the affected area and allow your body warmth to melt it into a liquid. As it liquefies, it will become easier to spread a thin layer onto your skin. You should feel its soothing effects almost immediately. Once the CBD is absorbed into your skin’s CB2 receptors, it works to “reduce inflammation and provide pain relief in a specific area. The onset is relatively quick (10-15 minutes) and the effects generally last from two to four hours.”2

CBD Lotion

Lotions are different from balms because they are largely made up of water, which makes the active ingredients easy to spread over a large area.

CBD lotion is perfect for you if:

  • You have dry skin or a skin condition
  • You want to rub CBD onto a larger portion of your body
  • You are applying CBD to an area with body hair

What can CBD lotion help with?

Because lotions are water-based and easy to spread over the entire body, they are a great CBD supplement option for your skin– from head to toe! 

Multiple scientific studies have suggested that daily CBD application can be soothing for those with skin conditions. One recent study in particular followed 20 people with self-reported eczema who applied CBD to their skin daily for two weeks. 

While the sample size was small, their findings were significant: “67% of subjects reported a decrease in itch and 50% perceived an improvement in their eczema by more than 60%.”<sup>3</sup>

CBD creams and lotions can be beneficial for your complexion.

CBD Cream

A cream falls between a balm and a lotion on the spectrum of how much water they contain. Balms contain no water, creams contain some (less than 50%), and lotions contain a lot (more than 50%). 

Because creams contain less water than lotions, they are more rich and emollient.

CBD creams work great for:

  • Nurturing aging skin
  • Moisturizing the delicate skin of the face and neck
  • Providing hydration as well as benefits

Is CBD good for wrinkles?

It has been shown that the endocannabinoid system (whose C1 and C2 receptors are found throughout the body as well as in the skin) plays a large role in healthy skin function.  Plus, you can browse the ingredient list of most anti-aging serums these days and you’ll see lots of  components that are also prevalent in hemp, like antioxidants and omega fatty acids. So it’s no wonder that evidence suggests that CBD can help prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging.  As Dr. Manisha Singal states in her new book The CBD Skin Care Solution: The Power of Cannabidiol for Healthy Skin, “the antioxidants in CBD oil, as well as the fatty acids that the cannabinoid contains, go far toward reducing age-related damage by nourishing new cell growth and effective turnover of dead cells. ”4

CBD Soap

CBD has even made it into bar soap! Now you can start your day with a CBD power shower. CBD soap is a simple, sudsy way to add the benefits of CBD to your daily skin care routine. 

CBD soap can be a good choice if:

  • You have a skin condition such as psoriasis, eczema, or acne
  • Traditional soaps dry out or irritate your skin
  • You want the skin benefits of CBD without the extra step of moisturizing

CBD for sensitive skin

Sensitive skin and other skin conditions can cause painful itching and discomfort. But did you know that these uncomfortable symptoms are actually messages relayed to the brain by TRP (transient receptor potential) receptors? 

Just like cannabinoid receptors, TRP receptors are abundant in the skin and are responsible for a host of healthy skin functions. And while CBD indirectly influences CB1 and CB2 receptors, it can bind directly to TRP receptors. 

This means that the use of CBD can help lessen or block the burning, itchy feelings that can be caused by sensitive skin and other irritations like “sunburn, scrapes, bug bites, and similar small wounds.”<sup>5</sup>

Are you ready to see the difference that topical CBD can make for your body and skin? We’ve got you covered.

Shop for Palmetto Harmony CBD balms, lotions, oils, and rubs here.

Treat yourself to Palmetto Harmony CBD skin care and soaps here.

          Citations:

  1. Eileen Konieczny, RN, Healing with CBD (Berkeley: Ulysses Press, 2018), 153
  2. Konieczny, 181
  3. Maghfour J, Rietcheck HR, Rundle CW, et al. An Observational Study of the Application of a Topical Cannabinoid Gel on Sensitive Dry Skin. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD. 2020 Dec;19(12):1204-1208. DOI: 10.36849/jdd.2020.5464.
  4. Manisha Singal, MD, The CBD Skincare Solution: The Power of Cannabidiol for Healthy Skin (Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2020), 147
  5.   Singal, 115

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