Lifestyle
Cannabinoids and inflammation
Put simply, inflammation is your immune system's natural response to injury or infection. Recent studies have also shown that inflammation can be caused by more surprising factors, like sleep, stress and diet.
Inflammation is an incredibly common symptom that varies massively on an individual basis. Some inflammation is generally considered positive, as it means your body is fighting and removing both foreign agents and damaged tissue (which in turn helps your body protect and heal itself).
However, prolonged periods of inflammation in visible areas like the face, neck and hands can be uncomfortable, frustrating, and even ageing. In terms of skincare, chronic inflammation can be linked to redness and sensitivity, both of which compromise the integrity of your skin barrier. And when your skin barrier is compromised, undesirable issues such as dryness and blemishes can occur. Over time, these issues can cause the breakdown of extracellular matrix proteins like collagen and elastin — two proteins widely associated with youthful-looking skin. This is why in skincare circles, inflammation is so often referred to as ‘inflamm-aging’.
Though our bodies can manage some inflammation themselves, there are ways we can reduce inflammation levels — without a medical prescription.
Cannabinoids are naturally anti-inflammatory and can decrease inflammation when ingested or applied topically through skincare. Preliminary research and anecdotal evidence suggest that cannabinoid-based products may help calm surface-level inflammation, including acne, eczema and rosacea. Various studies have suggested that CBD also triggers an increase in the production of anandamide, which enhances the body’s natural ability to fight inflammation when it occurs.
Whether you’re managing acute or chronic inflammation, cannabinoids offer scientifically proven solutions worth exploring.
References
- Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Skin Health and Disorders
- Chapter Eight - Sleep deprivation, oxidative stress and inflammation
- Get the Facts: CBD
- CBD for Psoriasis and PsA
- Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes
- Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Skin Health and Disorders
- Willow Bio
- Cannabinoid Signaling in the Skin: Therapeutic Potential of the "C(ut)annabinoid" System