Could CBD Face Serums Help Manage Acne?

Without a doubt, one of the most common skin issues is acne. Up to 50 million Americans develop acne at some point in their lives, with many scrambling to find a quick fix to get rid of the appearance of inflamed pimples covering their faces.

Of course, there are all kinds of acne treatments, ranging from creams you can buy at the local drug store to heavy-duty prescription medications for more serious cases. But, if you want to go a more natural route, you may want to consider trying cannabidiol, as new studies are showing that it has the potential to play a role in diminishing the symptoms of this common condition.

What is Acne?

Acne is a skin condition in which pimples develop on the skin’s surface due to clogged pores that become infected and inflamed. Acne most often develops on the face, but can also appear on the back, the chest, and other areas of the body.

The pores and follicles of the skin produce sebum, which is a naturally occurring oil that keeps the skin moisturized. But certain conditions can cause sebum to clog the pores, along with dead skin cells, and this results in a pimple. As the pore is now completely clogged, it can then become infected, and this is how and why white heads develop. The pore also becomes inflamed, which is why it develops a red, swollen appearance and feels tender to the touch. [Source]

Why Does Acne Occur?

There are various causes for acne, both internal and external.

Hormonal

The most common culprit behind acne is hormones. Our hormones dictate how much sebum is released through the pores, and excessive amounts of sebum production are prone to causing acne. This is why teenagers are more prone to acne than adults, and why many women have acne breakouts during a specific stage of their menstrual cycle.

Bacterial

Acne can also be caused by bacteria on the surface of the skin. Anything that transfers bacteria onto the skin can lead to acne.

Fungal

In some cases, acne is fungal in origin, as various fungal infections can cause pimples to develop.

Dietary

Certain dietary factors can contribute to acne, including deficiencies in certain nutrients like magnesium and zinc, along with the consumption of inflammatory foods such as dairy, sugar and gluten.

Stress

Stress is another common acne trigger, as high levels of cortisol trigger a higher production of sebum.

Products

The products that we apply to our skin can be responsible for breakouts as well. Some products either clog the pores or cause the skin to become inflamed, which can lead to acne.

Treating Acne

So, how does one treat acne?

One thing that can complicate the treatment process is the fact that everyone’s skin responds to certain treatments differently. In other words, what completely cures acne for one person may aggravate breakouts for another.

But there are some treatments that are known to work better than others.

Topical acids like glycolic acid, salicylic acid and retinol are known to generally have a positive effect on acne-prone skin by regulating the cell turnover rate to prevent the pores from becoming clogged. More severe cases of acne may benefit from Accutane, which is a drug that is prescribed by a dermatologist.

Many also find that simply making changes to their lifestyle helps. For instance, reducing stress levels can lessen stress-induced breakouts. Avoiding inflammatory foods like dairy can help as well, as can being more conscious of using products that don’t clog the pores.

Using CBD Face Serums for Acne: Do They Actually Work?

CBD face serum is a topical formula that uses cannabidiol as its active ingredient. CBD is the dominant compound in the hemp plant, and it’s a type of compound known as a cannabinoid, which is native to the cannabis genus to which hemp belongs.

Cannabinoids like CBD work by binding to cannabinoid receptors that belong to the body’s endocannabinoid system. These receptors have the job of regulating designated bodily processes to help systems run more smoothly. Cannabinoid receptors exist throughout the skin, and so, are tasked with controlling important skin functions that may be associated with the conditions responsible for acne.

Therefore, applying cannabinoids directly to the skin may help regulate skin functions that are imbalanced in acne sufferers.

In fact, there was a study several years ago which found that cannabidiol seems to offer both anti-inflammatory and sebostatic properties to the skin, which is extremely promising news for acne sufferers. We said that inflammation is a big part of acne, as the pimples become inflamed which is why they develop a swollen and red appearance. Therefore, the anti-inflammatory properties in CBD may calm down inflammation to make pimples less severe.

Meanwhile, sebostatic properties balance sebum production, which is the main culprit behind the condition. By regulating the manner in which the pores secrete sebum, the pores are less likely to become clogged, which can prevent pimples from developing.

How to Apply CBD Face Serums for Acne

Now, let’s talk about how to use CBD face serums specifically for acne.

The first thing to know is that not all CBD face serums are created equally. There are several factors you need to look for in order to ensure you get the best product for your skin’s needs:

1. You will need to make sure that the company you buy your product from has a good reputation.
2. The company you’re buying from does third-party testing on all of the hemp that they use.
3. Check the milligram strength, as higher milligram strengths are more potent, and therefore have the potential to be more effective.
4. Look at the other ingredients in the formula to make sure that they are friendly to your skin. Many acne sufferers find that they have sensitivities to specific, commonly used ingredients that clog pores or inflame the skin, such as certain fragrances or emulsifiers.

Ideally, you should apply your product each day, as cannabinoids work cumulatively, and so using them consistently can make them more effective over time. As you maintain a routine with CBD facial serum, you should also be mindful of minimizing factors that can make acne worse, including stress, poor diet and exposing the skin to bacteria.

CBD to Potentially Become Acne-Free

Acne is a uniquely frustrating and quite common condition that isn’t always the easiest to treat. But, with new research linking cannabidiol to skin wellness, you just may have another weapon in your arsenal to combat this condition. We encourage you to give CBD facial serums a try if you’re looking for a new means for controlling breakouts.