Cannabis and Acne - Does It Help or Worsen Skin Issues?
Does weed help with acne? With the ever-growing consumption and normalization of marijuana in society, many are studying the effects of cannabis on all parts of the body, including the skin.
Acne continues to be one of the most common skin complaints reported to dermatologists, so finding solutions to this distressing condition is of high importance. Cannabis may be one solution for acne breakouts and improved overall skin health when used topically.
What Is Acne?
Acne is a common skin complaint that occurs when hair follicles under the skin get clogged. The skin contains an oil called sebum that keeps the skin from drying out, but sometimes sebum and dead skin cells block the pores. This leads to inflammation and outbreaks of lesions, more commonly called pimples or zits. Outbreaks can happen on the back, chest, and shoulders, but most typically occur on the face.
The swelling, redness, pain, and heat associated with acne are a result of inflammation. When inflammation causes the plugged follicle to break down, bacteria, cells, and sebum can spill onto the surrounding skin, leading to pimples.
What Causes Acne?
It’s important to separate the factors that lead to acne and those that worsen existing acne. This can help sufferers avoid aggravating factors that can promote skin inflammation and decide on an appropriate acne treatment plan.
Risk Factors for Acne
Acne vulgaris results directly from excess oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria in the pore. However, there are some risk factors that can contribute to this build-up. These include:
Hormones: An increased number of androgens, male hormones, may lead to acne. These hormones increase naturally in males and females during puberty, leading to enlarged sebaceous glands that make more sebum. Some women also experience acne during menstruation and pregnancy due to hormonal changes.
Genetics: A family history of acne may increase your chances of getting acne.
Medications: Medications containing hormones, corticosteroids, or lithium can cause acne.
Age: Acne is most common among teenagers.
Factors that Make Existing Acne Worse
Acne can happen to anyone from time to time. Severe acne, however, is a condition that requires treatment and can be triggered by some environmental factors. Be aware of:
Stress or anxiety
Pressure caused by helmets, tight clothes, or backpacks
Diet. There is ongoing research into how your diet can affect acne. An article published on Healthline links acne risk to refined grains and sugars, certain dairy products, fast food, chocolate (including 99% dark chocolate), whey protein powder, and foods you are sensitive to.
Environmental factors like pollution or humidity. Residents in busy cities like Seattle may notice the effects of pollution on their skin.
How you treat your skin including squeezing or picking pimples, or scrubbing your skin too hard.
Marijuana's Effects on the Skin
You may find conflicting advice on how cannabis affects your skin. While some say that smoking cannabis may make existing acne worse (either directly or indirectly), others claim that cannabis topicals can play a role in treating acne.
How Weed Could Help With Acne
There is some evidence to suggest that cannabis could have a positive effect on acne. When considering how cannabis might affect acne, it's important to note how it's used. While smoking marijuana may make acne worse in some cases, the topical application of cannabis-based products could help people with moderate to severe acne:
Oláh et al reported that CBC, CBDV, and THCV show promise as highly efficient, novel anti-acne agents. Their investigation studied the effect of non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids on acne and observed their anti-inflammatory properties and potential for treating acne and other skin complaints.
Cohen (2021) reported on the topical use of cannabinoids, stating that laboratory and preliminary clinical studies suggest that topical cannabinoids may be beneficial for the treatment of acne and for skin rejuvenation. This backs up other studies that have investigated the safety and efficacy of topical creams containing cannabinoids. In one such study, a cream containing 3% cannabis seed extract was found to significantly improve skin sebum and erythema content.
Therefore, creams or other skin products containing cannabinoids could provide anti-inflammatory effects that reduce the appearance of acne and also reduce the sebum that causes acne.
Could Marijuana Worsen Acne?
There is little scientific evidence to conclusively link marijuana with worsened acne. What studies have shown is that smoking marijuana may aggravate existing acne indirectly:
Thistle et al. attempted to discover how marijuana affects testosterone levels. It was found that serum testosterone concentrations were briefly heightened after consuming cannabis. The duration or frequency of use didn't affect this relationship. Because male hormones are a recognized risk factor for acne, heightening these levels could have an impact on skin health.
Smoking could have a greater effect on acne than other consumption methods. It is generally accepted within the scientific community that tobacco smokers tend to be more affected than non-smokers by inflammatory skin conditions including acne. If you smoke marijuana and tobacco together, this is something to keep in mind.
It seems that the jury is still out regarding weed's effect on skin. However, if you notice a worsening in your skin health after smoking weed, it may be worth trying different consumption methods to see if there's any improvement.
CBD Oil and Acne
CBD is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is noted for its therapeutic potential in the treatment of immunological, neurodegenerative, cancer, cardiovascular, and dermatological problems, as well as conditions that are caused by inflammation.
The effect of CBD on sebaceous glands was studied by Peyravian et al. (2022). CBD was shown to inhibit excessive lipid synthesis. CBD's anti-inflammatory effects were also observed. The study concluded that CBD has great clinical potential in acne treatment.
How to Take CBD for Acne
To use CBD oil on the skin topically, mix it with another oil and apply the mixture directly to your skin. Carrier oils that mix well with CBD oil include:
Coconut oil
Argan oil
Olive oil
Shea butter
Taking oral CBD may also be effective and could be worth trying, especially if your symptoms are widespread.
Other Treatments for Acne
There is a wide range of different anti-acne products on the market, both over-the-counter and with a doctor's prescription. This is in addition to aesthetic treatments offered by some clinics and beauticians.
Most Common Topical Treatments for Acne
Topical retinoids: Creams or lotions containing retinoic acids are often used for moderate acne. Some people find retinoids harsh on the skin, so start with small amounts three times a week. When your skin gets used to retinoids, you can use it every night. If using retinoids at night, you must use sunscreen in the morning as these compounds increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun.
Benzoyl peroxide: This is often used to treat mild to moderate acne and comes in gel form or as a face wash. Some note skin irritation when they use benzoyl peroxide.
Oral Medications
Combined contraceptive pill: The FDA has approved three combined oral contraceptives that combine progestin and estrogen to treat acne in women who are at least 14 or 15 years old (depending on the brand), have already started menstruating, and need contraception. Possible side effects include weight gain, nausea, and breast tenderness.
Antibiotics: Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics for moderate to severe acne. Antibiotics should only be taken for short amounts of time and are typically prescribed in combination with other drugs like benzoyl peroxide.
Accutane: Accutane is a potent medication used for moderate to severe acne and is generally prescribed when acne hasn't responded to other treatments.
Consider Cannabis-Based Topical Creams or CBD Oil for Acne
The way in which your skin reacts to factors such as smoking or marijuana use is entirely personal. In the same way, finding a treatment if you have acne is often a question of trial and error.
If you find that common acne treatments aren't working, cannabis or CBD-based products could be worth a try. Consult the staff in your local dispensary to see which products they recommend.