How Cannabis Oil Helps Skin Wounds Heal Faster, According To Research
Cannabis in its many forms, from edibles to inhaled weed, tinctures to oils and so much more, have been proven to be beneficial for its countless therapeutic benefits.
Typically, cannabis is ingested in the human body. It’s smoked, eaten, drank, or applied underneath the tongue. These methods allow cannabis to be metabolized by various systems in the human body, thus enabling the cannabinoids to do their healing work from the inside out. But the use of cannabis topicals is also a fast-growing segment.
Weed topicals and transdermals, such as patches, oils, balms, and salves, infused with cannabinoids, have been shown to have healing properties for skin applications as well. Cannabidiol (CBD) in particular, possesses incredible anti-inflammatory properties that aid in the healing of wounds, ulcers, localized pain, bacterial infections, and so much more.
The results of a recent scientific review were published, initially by Marijuana Moment, backing up the growing body of research that cannabis oil is effective for a variety of applications though this one focuses on skin wounds. For the report, investigators from educational institutions in Thailand and India analyzed the effect of cannabis oil on reactive oxygen species (ROS) when wounds are healing. These chemicals promote damage in tissues and cells, causing a longer time to heal wounds.
“Increased ROS levels can hinder wound healing by exacerbating inflammation and cellular damage,” says the paper. “CBD’s antioxidant properties mitigate these effects, fostering a more conducive environment for tissue regeneration,” it reads. The authors also found that cannabis oil was helpful in reducing the oxidative damage caused by ROS, thereby improving antioxidant mechanisms in the wound, which has the potential to speed up wound healing.
“Cannabis oil, especially its primary bioactive constituents, CBD and THC, demonstrates considerable potential in facilitating skin wound healing by modifying oxidative stress via the regulation of reactive oxygen species,” reads the research. In summary, the excellent antioxidant properties of CBD work well to mitigate the negative effects of ROS, promoting tissue regeneration. The authors also acknowledge the analgesic and antibacterial properties of marijuana, which contributes to a reduction in microbial load.
Read up below about the benefits of transdermal cannabis application and its benefits for various skin diseases.
CBD Topicals Work Better Than Conventional Meds For Skin Ulcers
In a 2023 study out of Italy, researchers found that a CBD topical was more effective in addressing wound pain and speeding up wound healing among patients with skin ulcers caused by scleroderma. The randomized trial data, which was published in Advances in Skin and Wound Care, specifically focuses on scleroderma ulcers, a rare autoimmune condition characterized by skin tightening and narrowing of blood vessels.
For the study, Italian researchers analyzed the effects of topical CBD oils compared to conventional treatments. A group of 25 patients with digital ulcers (in the fingertips) were studied; they were randomly chosen and assigned to use CBD for one month while 20 other patients were prescribed to take conventional therapeutic medications.
They found that the participants who were given CBD observed more significant pain relief and more efficient wound healing compared to those in the control group.
“Although mean wound-related pain NRS (numeric rating scale) scores did not differ between CBD-treated patients and control patients at baseline, their mean scores differed significantly after 1 month,” wrote the researchers. More particularly, the patients who took CBD saw a pain score decrease of 29% over the course of the study, while those who were given conventional meds only saw a 6% decrease.
Topical CBD Effective For Skin Cancer
In a case report of a 64-year-old woman who had a medical history of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), topical application of 20% CBD ointment was found to be effective in treating the cancerous lesion.
The investigators involved, from the University of California at Riverside and UC Davis, wrote a summary of their findings after analyzing the woman, writing: “She self-initiated treatment with topical cannabinoid oil, twice daily, and the lesion completely resolved within four weeks. Several prior biopsy-confirmed squamous cell carcinomas on her dorsal hands also completely regressed after similar treatment with topical cannabinoid oil,” they wrote.
“Both malignant cancer and chronic dermatitis completely resolved within four weeks of twice-daily treatment. We attribute the clearance of her skin tumor to the cannabidiol,” they wrote. However, they suggest more investigation into the benefits of cannabidiol for squamous cell carcinoma and other non-melanoma skin cancer types.
Benefits of Topical Application
Whether for skin wounds, ulcers, skin cancer, or pain, topical delivery of cannabinoids is an excellent way to benefit from its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. After all, the skin is well-known for its abundance of cannabinoid receptors, both CB1 and CB2. These are particularly found in skin cells including the sebaceous glands, keratinocytes, and even various sensory neurons. Because of the direct receptor expression in the skin, this makes it simpler for cannabinoids to act directly on skin issues.
It must be said that topical or transdermal application of cannabinoid products also bypasses gastrointestinal metabolism, a process also known as prevention of first-pass metabolism. This results in a more stable level of cannabinoid and longer-lasting benefits without the patient having to experience psychoactive properties that are linked to smoking, consuming edibles, drinking, and other oral routes of administration. This is why, even if you apply THC-infused topicals to the skin, you won’t get high.
Conclusion
Marijuana topicals possess a wide range of benefits for patients of skin diseases. Because of cannabinoids’ anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties, it’s become easier to understand how it can contribute to such powerful wound healing and pain relief – oftentimes, even more effective than conventional medications!
CANNABIS AND SKIN CARE, READ ON...
