Everything You Need To Know About Using CBD Oil For Eczema
Written By
Nishant Garund
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Varuni AgarwalDr. Varuni Agarwal is an esteemed Ayurvedic physician specializing in diagnosing diseases through Ayurvedic dosha imbalances and providing personalized treatments. She focuses on ahara (diet) and vihara (lifestyle) to manage and heal various ailments.
Eczema is a general name for various skin disorders that can dry out the skin, causing irritation, pain, and itchy spots that can seriously impair one's quality of life. Although it can happen to anyone, it is a common condition in children. Eczema is a chronic disorder that can be accompanied by asthma or hay fever and tends to flare up occasionally.
Eczema often comes and goes, having virtually little effect on a person's life in its mild form. However persistent eczema cases can sometimes be so painful and stressful that hospitalisation is necessary.
Eczema has several different subcategories, such as discoid eczema, which causes disk-shaped areas on the skin, and contact dermatitis, in which the skin reacts to everything it comes in contact with, such as using a particular type of fabric or skincare items.
Although there is no known cure for eczema, treatments can lessen irritation and prevent new breakouts, such as moisturising the skin, using medicated lotions, or staying away from harsh cleansers. Since a large number of people have started using CBD for skincare, you’ll be glad to know that CBD oil can actually help to soothe eczema flare ups.
Table of Contents
What causes Eczema flare-ups?
Eczema flare-ups can be brought on by various internal and environmental sources, including genetic factors. Sometimes the cause is straightforward. People with eczema typically have an overactive immune system that causes skin inflammation in response to specific common triggers.
According to recent research, some eczema patients have a gene mutation that results in filaggrin. Filaggrin is a protein that aids in preserving a solid barrier of defence on the epidermis of our skin. Our skin won't have a strong enough barrier if our bodies don't produce enough filaggrin. This means moisture can escape, and bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens are more likely to enter. Because of this, eczema-prone individuals frequently have dry skin, to begin with.
Dehydrated skin, chemical irritants like soap and detergent, artificial textiles, stress, and genetic factors are some more causes of eczema. In reality, stress is frequently the primary eczema trigger for many people or acts as an aggressor for other triggers. What's worse is that stress from having eczema can often make it worse again for many people.
Eczema: Know the Symptoms
Eczema symptoms vary from person to person, and not everyone will experience them, but the following are the most typical ones:
- The appearance of scaly and cracked skin
- There are red to brownish spots on the neck, upper chest, hands, feet, ankles, eyelids, bend of the elbows, and knees.
- swelling brought on by rubbing
- intense itch and pain
- Dry and inflamed skin
- From the age of five to puberty and maturity, it frequently happens. While for some people, it gradually goes away, for others, it could take several years.
CBD and Eczema: How Does it Work?
The skin contains a sophisticated network of cannabinoid receptors found throughout the body. These receptors can be bound by CBD, which may have some health advantages. This has given rise to the notion that using CBD topically could treat some skin disorders.
According to an older study, incorporating chemicals that can bind to cannabinoid receptors, like CBD, may help reduce itching.
CBD oil combines extracts and substances like shea butter, coconut oil, or rose oil. By using CBD oil for eczema, a person may not require prescription medications such as oral antihistamines or steroids.
Eczema comes in various forms and can manifest itself in various body parts. All varieties of eczema can result in skin patches that are itchy, dry, and flaky. It may occasionally result in uncomfortable blisters and sores, making the skin more prone to infection.
The risk profile of anti-eczema medicines is often considerable. Steroid creams and anti-inflammatory and antihistamine medications are frequently administered, which might cause your symptoms to worsen with time. Because of this, many eczema patients are searching hard for alternative therapy. Some become accustomed to living with a compromised skin barrier and increased susceptibility to allergens, germs, and irritants.
Introducing dietary adjustments, altering your way of life, and spending more time on your skincare regimen may help manage eczema to some extent. Natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant supplements may help address some possible reasons for eczema and improve your skin's appearance.
Here's where CBD oil comes into play. A growing amount of research shows that CBD is effective for treating several skin disorders, including eczema. Current research is highly encouraging; we go into detail about it below. People with eczema must cope with many fundamental concerns, affecting their quality of life in various ways, including at work and in social situations. The typical signs of eczema include skin dryness, irritation, itching, and susceptibility to bacterial infections.
Skin inflammation, unavoidable as the body works to repair the tissues it has damaged, can be lessened with CBD oil. It's the immune system's normal reaction to the start of an illness or injury. The issue arises when inflammation becomes chronic due to immune system overreaction. By interacting with white blood cells like microglial cells and macrophages, which cause inflammation, CBD has been found to reduce inflammation effectively. Additionally, CBD activates glycine receptors, which reduces chronic inflammatory pain.
How safe is CBD for eczema?
You can effectively treat eczema and other skin disorders with CBD, which is usually considered harmless. CBD oil's anti-inflammatory qualities may help lessen the itchiness, discomfort, swelling, and redness associated with skin disorders like eczema. As with any topical medication, it's crucial to test CBD oil on a small area of healthy skin before using it on more severe eczema-affected skin. Always do a patch test by applying CBD oil to a tiny area and wait 24 hours to see if any adverse effects such as itching, redness, or swelling appear.
Oral CBD vs. Topical CBD: Which one is better for eczema?
Combining oral and topical CBD application methods is the most effective strategy for treating eczema. The best outcomes are expected to be achieved using full-spectrum CBD oil. Through the interaction of the endocannabinoid system and immune system, using a whole-plant extract enables you to restore the body's homeostasis successfully. And since stress is a significant contributor to many skin conditions, treating your internal health is one way to address the problem.
By applying CBD oil to the inflamed area, the CBD interacts with the skin's cannabinoid receptors to help relieve pain, itching, and inflammation. Therefore, patients with eczema may get relief from a combination of topical and oral high-quality CBD oil.
How to use CBD oil for Eczema?
CBD oil can be taken by placing a few drops of the oil under the tongue. A high-CBD hemp extract and an inert oil, such as MCT oil or hemp seed oil, are combined to create a good quality CBD oil, increasing CBD's bioavailability. For simple and precise dosing, the oil is put into glass vials and secured with a dropper. Ingesting CBD oil requires placing the proper dosage under the tongue and waiting for it to absorb via your mouth's capillaries, which takes about 60 seconds.
Apply the oil as you would any topical treatment to the affected region, rubbing it until it penetrates the skin. If necessary, you may also reapply. Never, however, use the lotion on skin that is damaged.
Always check the product label for detailed directions and cautions. For first-time CBD users, starting with a low dosage product is recommended. A small patch test can also ascertain the possibility of adverse reactions. The Neet rose oil iss the best CBD oil for Eczema.
The Takeaway
Although there haven't been any clear studies to prove that CBD oil is an excellent treatment for psoriasis, it's safe to say that it's worth a go, given what we know about hemp seed oil's effectiveness in treating eczema and how good it is for overall skin and immune health. Eczema is one of the skin disorders for which CBD shows promise. It is also used to treat the visible scars caused by this condition, especially in areas where the infection had existed but has since healed. The cannabinoid has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and is aided by other substances present in cannabis, such as terpenes and minor cannabinoids.
If you consider using CBD for skincare, visit a qualified dermatologist with experience treating skin conditions with natural remedies. By doing this, you may determine the dosage range that is most appropriate for your circumstances and steer clear of any possible drug interactions with eczema treatments.