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With more and more states legalizing marijuana for both medicinal and recreational use, as well as the federal government allowing for more studies into the medicinal effects of marijuana, CBD has broken out and become a huge talking point lately.

There are many claims out there that say that CBD can help with everything from inflammation to anxiety, but more recently people are claiming that the properties of CBD, when used in certain forms, can help your skin look younger.

But is there any truth to these claims?

What is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of many chemicals found in marijuana, but one that does not cause the typical “high” feeling that most people associate with marijuana. It is typically extracted from marijuana or hemp plants to be used as oils that can be vaporized, oils that can be ingested, or an additive for food and drink products.

While CBD still requires more research to determine the overall medicinal effects, there are claims out there that state it can help with a wide variety of ailments. The most common ailments that people today are using CBD to help with are things like anxiety and depression, inflammation and pain, and even IBS and MS. There is a wide range of conditions that are currently being studied in regards to the effects that CBD may have on them, but until the federal government allows for open testing on marijuana, it is difficult to get funding for these studies.

Can CBD Benefit Your Skin?

Without any in-depth studies done around CBD and skin treatments, it’s hard to really say that there are any true benefits of using a lotion or cream that contains CBD, but that doesn’t mean it’s not effective.

There have been smaller case studies focused on the medicinal benefits of CBD when it comes to our skin, and some of them are quite promising.

Is CBD going to turn back the clock and make you look 10 years younger? No, but it may be able to help alleviate some of the skin issues that arise as you get older.

Since CBD is known to be anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant, it can help rejuvenate your skin by reducing redness and swelling, and even helping to reduce scarring you may experience. Inflammation is one of the main causes of skin disease, but CBD may not be enough to clear up those issues on their own.

Most doctors would agree that treating an underlying skin disease with traditional medicine is the best option, but the use of CBD on the backend to help clear up any lingering issues may be beneficial.

CBD has also shown to be helpful when it comes to acne.

One of the causes of acne is an excess in sebum, an oil that the skin produces to help protect itself. CBD has been shown to help reduce the amount of sebum that is created, thus helping to prevent acne flair ups. Those properties combined with the anti-inflammatory and antifungal aspects of CBD, show promise when used to help treat or prevent acne.

Researchers still need to study CBD more thoroughly to determine what medicinal properties, and the best method of treatments, would benefit people looking for alternative medicine.

Is CBD Safe? How Much Should I Use?

In general CBD has shown very little in the way of side-effects. In some cases you may experience dry mouth, drowsiness, diarrhea and fatigue. When used in topical situations, there have been instances of rash and allergic reactions. It can also interact with other prescription medications so it’s always important to discuss with your doctor if you’re thinking about treating with CBD.

The other issue with using CBD is that the proper dosage levels aren’t exactly known as they are when it comes to other medications. CBD hasn’t been studied long enough to determine how much a person should use, and by which delivery method, to treat certain conditions or ailments.

If you’re looking for an alternative treatment to help with skin redness, irritation, acne, or itchiness, then CBD might be worth trying, but it’s not a guaranteed solution.

There are lots of people out there that will push CBD as being this “wonder drug” that can help alleviate almost anything you may be suffering from, but we recommend you proceed with caution.

While there are studies out there that show there are some benefits of CBD, there isn’t enough research out there to truly say if it provides relief for everything.

Be sure to talk to your doctor if you plan on trying CBD instead of other drugs, or in addition to other drugs, as they will be able to help you understand the risks involved.

If you do decide to try CBD as part of your skin regimen, and you haven’t used it before, we recommend starting off with smaller doses to ensure that you won’t react negatively to the product. The last thing you want to do, when trying to improve your skin, is to cause a rash.

CBD and medicinal marijuana have shown, in early studies, to have properties that can help reduce pain and inflammation, as well as help with anxiety and other ailments, but until the federal government re-classifies marijuana and allows for more studies to be performed, CBD is still a product you use at your own risk. So just be smart.