If you have sensitive skin, you’re probably someone who pays close attention to the ingredients that come into contact with your skin. If so, you’ve probably noticed how prevalent CBD is becoming in a variety of skin care products as of late.
There’s even a chance that you’ve heard of some of the possible benefits that CBD could have for your skin. For instance, does CBD oil tighten skin? CBD products may have the potential to help combat signs of aging and reduce the presence of age spots.
But when you have sensitive skin, the most innocuous-seeming product can sometimes wreak havoc on your tender skin, leaving you red, raw and itchy. For that reason, spottingCBD for sensitive skin on an ingredient label may make you think twice before dropping a product into your cart, especially if you've never used it before.
...anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD may support full-body wellness, including skin health.
So, what's the lowdown on CBD for sensitive skin? Are CBD skin care products safe for all skin types or will they cause extra irritation? And what are the potential benefits of using CBD on your skin? Keep reading for everything you need to know.
Are CBD Skincare Products Good For Sensitive Skin?
Since it was federally legalized in 2018 as part of Congress's bipartisan Agricultural Improvement Act, CBD skincare products have begun cropping up in a variety of forms, from oils and tinctures to edibles and lotions.
However, the 2018 Farm Bill only legalizes the production and marketing of CBD. It makes no claims about the chemical’s medical merits. To this date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved one CBD product for medical purposes.
That being said, anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD may support full-body wellness, including skin health.
What to Know About CBD For Sensitive Skin
When people talk about sensitive skin, they’re referring to skin that tends to become irritated when it comes into contact with external agents or environmental conditions. People with sensitive skin often experience skin irritation in response to a variety of products, such as:
- Cosmetics, lotions and oils
- Body fluids including sweat, urine or feces
- Factors like friction, occlusion, heat, cold or humidity
It’s important to remember that sensitive skin is not necessarily indicative of a negative reaction — although the signs and symptoms can be quite similar. People with sensitive skin often face such skin ailments as:
- Bumpy skin
- Burning
- Dry skin
- Hives
- Itching
- Peeling skin
- Red skin
- Stinging
Although we still have a lot to learn about CBD, the research so far indicates that CBD has the potential to help people with sensitive skin manage the symptoms and irritations of their condition. Here’s what CBD for sensitive skin may be able to do for you.
#1 May Prevent and Soothe Inflammation
As indicated above, sensitive skin is an inflammatory response to external irritants. In the most basic sense, inflammation is a natural immune reaction that your body experiences when it comes into contact with agents that it perceives as a threat.
When it comes to your sensitive skin, that includes chemicals and other ingredients in products that touch your skin, environmental conditions and even your own bodily fluids.
To combat these irritants, your body sends white blood cells rushing to the point of contact, increasing blood flow to the area. This causes some of the most well-known symptoms of inflammation, like swelling, redness and physical discomfort.
The good news for people who are wondering about the benefits of using CBD for sensitive skin is that CBD potentially has strong anti inflammatory property and antioxidant properties when applied topically with products like:
- Oils
- Lotions
- Creams and salves
Topical CBD skincare products interact with your body's endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex signaling system that can affect everything from your mood and sleep patterns to your appetite and reproductive health.
Special proteins attached to your cells act as receptors, which interpret the signals sent by the CBD skin care product and the natural endocannabinoid molecules your body produces. These signals instruct the cells of your body on what their response to certain stimuli should be - responses that often help reduce inflammation and, by extension, relieve physical discomfort.
CBD for sensitive skin is usually paired with another ingredient like aloe vera to provide relief from inflammation. CBD and Aloe Vera is a common combination found in a hypoallergenic CBD lotion for sunburn.
#2 May Relieve Discomfort Associated With Inflammation
If you have sensitive skin, you know how uncomfortable it can be when an irritant causes a reaction. For the most part, that discomfort stems from inflammation, which causes swelling as well as fluid and tissue build-up. This all puts extra pressure on your nerves.
When it comes to CBD for sensitive skin, the good news is that there’s some evidence to suggest that CBD might be useful for managing and minimizing a variety of types of physical discomfort.
#3 May Support Wounds Associated With Irritated Skin
From scratching to peeling to blisters and bumpy patches, when your skin is irritated, there’s always a good chance you could incur a minor injury or two. But even the smallest lacerations can become big problems if they become irritated or don’t heal properly.
That’s another reason why CBD may benefit people with sensitive skin. According to some research, CBD may have properties that help support skin wounds.
But that’s not all. Once your wounds have healed, you’ll be glad to know that continuing to apply a CBD topical may help reduce the scars your wounds can leave behind. According to evidence suggested by studies, CBD may be effective in stimulating an array of bodily functions that help heal scars by:
- Increasing the production of collagen in your skin
- Stimulating the growth of new cells
- Aiding in cellular regeneration
Will CBD Irritate My Sensitive Skin?
More research is needed on how CBD affects all skin types in both the short and long term before its safety can be unequivocally stated. However, it’s commonly believed that CBD is relatively safe.
That said, you know your own skin better than anyone else. And if it’s sensitive, you need to be extra cautious about any products you use, whether or not they contain CBD.
If you’re new to the game and you’re thinking of using CBD for sensitive skin, here’s one way to introduce it into your routine:
- Introduce the product gradually – When you're trying out a new product, it's best to ease yourself into using it just in case it irritates your sensitive skin. Before you start lathering a CBD lotion or cbd hemp oil all over your face, try spot-testing it. That way, if you do have a reaction, you can keep it isolated.
- Introduce products one at a time – If you’re trying more than one new product, you should avoid trying them all together. Instead, introduce one product and use it for a few weeks to a month before moving on to another.
- Always buy from brands you trust – CBD labeling can be murky, so be sure that you’re reading and fully understanding everything on the ingredients list. Conducting research or speaking with a physician is the route to take if anything is confusing or you have questions.
- Always read the ingredients label – A product that contains CBD may very well set off your sensitive skin. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the CBD is to blame. Your skin could be reacting to other ingredients in the product you’re using, so be extra diligent about reading the ingredient labels on any new products that you’re adding to your skincare lineup.
Thinking of incorporating a CBD oil or lotion into your morning or nighttime skincare routine? Zebra CBD has the products including a calming moisturizer and the resources you need to get started.
Are There Risks Associated With Using CBD?
The unknowns surrounding the potential risks of using CBD are a big part of why further research is so important. In fact, that was one of the goals of the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act, which stipulates protections for continued CBD research and reclassifies the hemp plant as a “critical agricultural material,” according to The Brookings Institute.
That said, the research we have so far is cause for optimism. In most cases, CBD tends to pose very few risks to people who use it. And the side effects that have been associated with CBD use are typically very mild. They include:
- Decreased appetite
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
It’s important to keep in mind that, as with most supplements, CBD may potentially interact with other medications you’re taking. In particular, blood thinners can be a cause for concern when mixed with CBD products.
Additionally, further risks of using CBD have very little to do with the chemical and everything to do with the quality of an individual skincare product. Unfortunately, when it comes to ingredient quality and label accuracy, many CBD products fall far short of the bar.
In fact, a recent study found that out of 84 CBD products purchased online, more than 20 advertised higher levels of CBD than were actually present.
And although THC, the active chemical in marijuana that leads to the inebriation known as a “high,” is not as prevalent in the hemp plant from which CBD oil is derived, that same study discovered that nearly a quarter of the products tested contained higher levels of THC than their labeling suggested. Full spectrum CBD may contain traces of THC and other cannabinoid, but CBD isolate does not.
One of the biggest obstacles people who use CBD must hurdle is the misrepresentation of ingredients found on CBD packaging. The fact is, not all manufacturers are fully transparent when it comes to what goes into their CBD products, which can put consumers at risk — especially if they have sensitive skin.
Zebra CBD For Sensitive Skin
Fortunately, CBD may help to relieve irritation and inflammation associated with sensitive skin.
For topicals that soothe, look to Zebra CBD skincare. We’re fully committed to accurate, readable ingredient labels so that you always know what you’re putting on your skin. All of our CBD cream, lotions, oils and other products are rigorously tested and independently verified, and it’s all right there on the label.
Give yourself some much-needed relief with Zebra CBD’s line of CBD topicals. Look through our range to find the CBD skin care product just for you.
Source:
Food and Drug Administration. Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/congressional-testimony/hemp-production-and-2018-farm-bill-07252019
DermNet NZ. Sensitive Skin. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/sensitive-skin#
Center for Advancement of Health. Can I Use CBD Oil for Scar? https://cfah.org/cbd-oil-for-scars/#
Brookings Institute. The Farm Bill, hemp legalization, and the status of CBD: An Explainer. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2018/12/14/the-farm-bill-hemp-and-cbd-explainer
Mayo Clinic. CBD: Safe and Effective? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/is-cbd-safe-and-effective/faq-20446700#
