Skin Deep: Your Ultimate Guide to Topical CBD
As the world embraces CBD for its medicinal value, CBD product manufacturers and other health professionals continue to discover more and more ways to take advantage of its health and medicinal benefits. This offers consumers more options and allows them to choose the method most convenient for them. Methods include oils, tinctures, edibles, patches, vape oil, and topicals in the form of creams, lotions, balms, and more.
Topical CBD, unlike other CBD
products, doesn’t enter the bloodstream but is no less effective. Depending on
the issue you’re trying to address, it could even work faster than say,
tinctures and edibles, which are ingested, and work from inside the body.
Because topical CBD is applied right to the skin and exactly where it’s needed,
the cannabinoid is absorbed directly into the affected area so it’s able to
work faster, providing quick relief.
Whether you’re new to cannabidiol
and deciding which product is for you, or you’re just exploring other options,
we’ve got everything you need to know about topical CBD right here.
What is Topical CBD? (and How Does it Work?)
Topical CBD is a product infused
with cannabinoids, which are compounds found in the cannabis plant, and
designed to be applied externally, onto the skin. It is known to provide quick
localized relief without ingestion. Since topical CBD it is applied externally,
it only affects the surface layers of the body. This is all it needs though.
Inside each of our bodies is an
endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is a network of receptors which can be found
in the brain, nervous system, and other parts of your body. The ECS is also in
our skin and is the key to how topical CBD works.
Topical CBD works by interacting
with the ECS receptor points in our skin. When these receptors are activated,
they start to seek out “stressed” receptors and bring them back into balance.
When we have stressed out receptors, we notice symptoms ranging from aches and
pains to general soreness and stiffness.
Now that you know a little about
how CBD works topically, let’s discuss the various types of skincare products
it can be found in.
What are the Different Types of Topical CBD?
Topical CBD has essentially three
different consistencies: creams and lotions, balms and salves, and oil. Here’s
how they are different from each other.
CBD Cream and Lotion
CBD cream and lotion fall under
the same category because while creams are slightly thicker than lotions, they
have similar consistency and texture. These products make use of a small amount
of water, along with moisturizing agents like shea butter, aloe vera, and other
nutrients. These are formulated to moisturize and restore the skin barrier.
CBD Salve and Balm
Unlike creams and lotions, CBD
salve and balm products do not use water, hence the more solid consistency.
They are typically made with beeswax and fatty oils combined with CBD. They are
thick and harder to spread throughout the skin compared to creams and lotions, therefore,
these products are best used on specific, targeted areas that need relief.
Topical CBD Oil
Topical CBD oil often has other
ingredients like olive oil or coconut oil. They are also formulated with other
essential oils, vitamins, and minerals. They are the easiest to spread over
large areas of the body and are best used as a massage oil to relieve pain and
give your skin an over-all relaxing sensation.
How Do you Apply Topical CBD Products?
- Make sure to clean the affected area prior to application. It’s best to wash it with soap and water to rid the spot of any other product residues, dirt, or natural oils as these could affect your skin’s absorption of the product.
- Take a good amount of the product and massage it onto the problem areas. Leave it for a few minutes so it’s absorbed into the skin before covering it with a bandage or putting garments over it.
- Use as frequently as needed to get the best results. CBD products don’t get you high, plus topical CBD doesn’t really enter the bloodstream so it won’t have any effects to the rest of your body.
- Wash your hands when you’re done. CBD topicals have other active ingredients and while they provide relief to painful areas of your body, it could sting when it gets to your eyes and other parts of the body.
What are the Most Common Uses of Topical CBD?
CBD has been proven to have
anti-inflammatory benefits, and because one of the most common causes of pain
is inflammation, using topical CBD can provide relief and relaxation.
Sun Burn
Overexposure to the sun’s rays is
what triggers sunburns. The affected skin then turns red and irritated, and in
severe cases, it can cause swelling and blisters. These are signs of
inflammation. CBD creams and lotions can help reduce the pain and inflammation
and at the same time helps rehydrate the burnt skin.
Arthritis Pain
Arthritis is the inflammation of
one or more of your joints, most commonly associated with aging. It causes
moderate to severe pain, swelling, and stiffness, and could even limit your
ability to move the affected body part. Topical CBD can help with the symptoms,
according to a study made in 2015. It concludes that topical CBD application
has therapeutic potential for relief of arthritis pain-related behaviors and
inflammation without evident side-effects.
Muscle Pain
A lot of athletes have been using
CBD to speed up muscle recovery after rigorous training. They often take it
orally, but topical CBD has similar effects. CBD creams, salves, and balms can
help relax the muscles and reduce inflammation and the physical discomforts
caused by intense physical activities.
Other studies claim that topical
CBD may prove helpful for other skin issues like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and
more.
What are the Different Factors to Consider When Choosing a Topical CBD?
If you’re new to topical CBD and
trying to figure out which product will work for you, it’s best to take a look
at the different factors and understand how they come into play with each
product. Here are a few things you need to consider.
Ingredients
There would often be other
ingredients in topicals apart from CBD and they’re not always the same.
Different manufacturers use different ingredients and once you know what you
want to use the topical for, you have to make sure that the added ingredients
in it do not counter your desired effect.
For example, if you hope to treat
skin issues by using CBD cream but the formulation includes other comedogenic
ingredients that could block your pores, it could do more harm than good.
Always read up and do your research.
Concentration
The potency of topical CBD
affects its effectiveness so you might want to check if a product’s potency is
strong enough to make it past the skin so that it can work on providing relief
to the affected area. Always opt for high-quality topicals that are highly
concentrated to get the best results.
Consistency
Different consistencies of
topical CBD may vary in effectiveness, and depending on what you want to use it
for, one product may be better for you than the other. For example, balms and
salves are thicker than lotions and creams and may work better because its
thickness makes it easier for the skin to absorb it.
On the other hand, if you
have dry skin and need a little bit of hydration, you might want to go for
lotions and creams as they contain moisturizing agents that could ease the
dryness. It’s always a good idea to match the products to your specific needs.
Manufacturer
Make sure you source CBD skincare
products from manufacturers you can trust. Legit CBD companies have
high-quality products and provide you with an accurate chemical breakdown of
everything that they offer, allowing you to make an informed decision when it
comes to choosing the kind of topical that’s right for you.
Final Thoughts
Topical CBD for skin, like other
CBD products, is a great alternative to over-the-counter medicines. Studies
have proven their anti-inflammatory benefits without the side effects that
traditional, prescription medications often have.
To maximize the benefits of
topical CBD, know exactly what your problem areas are—it’s always good to have
a specific target. Then, do your research so you know how to choose the best
consistency and the exact product that can address it. Finally, observe best
practices when using it.
This article first appeared on
MadeByHemp.com