When most people think about CBD products, edibles almost always come to mind before anything else. These products are infused with CBD oils and come in a wide range of dose sizes and potency levels. Taking CBD orally is one of the simplest ways to get CBD into your system, as it is easy to take and allows you to control the dosage precisely. Despite the ease of use that comes with edibles, tablets, and tinctures, CBD runs its course through the entire body when taken orally. Therapy for systemic issues, therefore, are best treated with ingestible CBD products. For anyone looking for a treatment method that targets specific areas, topical CBD products can be highly beneficial.
Cannabinoids can be put into a wide variety of topical products such as patches, lotions, soaps, shampoos, massage oils, and much more. Since the human body is adept at absorbing CBDs transdermally, CBDs enter the affected area and begin to provide targeted relief more efficiently.
How do transdermal CBD products work?
Often overlooked is the fact that our skin is our largest organ. As the science continues to move forward on CBD use and the body’s ability to utilize it, researchers find new benefits from topical CBD use all the time. In fact, we now know that our skin has CB2 receptors near the skin. As a result, our skin can absorb CBDs in ways that our blood cannot. Intake is slower, but effects are also much longer lasting.
Whether you are interested in balms, lotions, hair care products, or patches, you can be sure that relief is possible without dosing your whole body. Keep in mind that effects will be gradual and can be hard to notice at first. In the beginning, use ample amounts of your chosen product and apply regularly until you find the relief you are looking for. Once you find the comfort levels you are looking for, you can slowly draw back the dose to a manageable level.
Speaking with a medical professional can help you decide how much and how often you should apply CBD topically. They can also help you understand which products are best for the condition that you are looking to find relief for.
When to use topical CBD products
As we already alluded to, topical CBD products do not pass through the digestive system since they are absorbed transdermally. Cannabinoids in topical products never make it directly into the bloodstream, either, as they are absorbed by the CB2 receptors in and near the skin. That means topical CBD treatments are best for local applications. Topical CBD products help with conditions related to the skin, muscles, and joints. If you are experiencing discomfort in any of the following areas, topical CBD use may be right for you.
Pain
CBD is probably best-known as a pain reliever. People experiencing all kinds of pain, be it acute, chronic, or simply aches and pains, can find relief in CBD treatments. Cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory effects on joints and muscle tissue which help to reduce pain symptoms.
Sufferers from arthritis and other autoimmune disorders report a great deal of comfort after undergoing regular CBD therapy. There are many creams and salves available which can be rubbed into the skin over the affected joints, allowing the CBDs to ease tension. Athletes also commonly use CBD topicals to help with stiffness and soreness after training.
CBD products are quickly becoming the go-to choice for people looking for relief but are not thrilled at the prospect of taking more dangerous painkillers.
Injury
Injury is another common reason that people have for using CBD topicals. While they will not heal a fracture or torn ligament, the right product applied in the right way can make a significant difference in how the injury heals and how comfortable the person is while the injury is healing.
When used on the skin, CBD slowly absorbs into the skin where it does two crucial things. One is that the cannabinoids relieve the effects of the pain, and the other is that they reduce swelling and inflammation to keep the injury from getting worse.
The injury might be caused by reoccurring stress on a joint, like tennis elbow or runner’s knee. Or, it might be a pulled muscle, sprained ankle, or any other type of sudden damage. In any case, CBD lotions, salves, balms, and creams can certainly help with the pain. In cases where the injury is especially painful, patches are also available and they have become quite popular in the sporting world.
Skin
The skin, as mentioned previously, is our largest organ and there are many factors that go into its health. Our immune systems play a role in maintaining balanced skin chemistry, but there are other considerations as well.
Applying CBD oil directly to the skin, be it from hemp or cannabis, can help with a large number of things. CBD treatments have been successful with rashes and psoriasis, as well as rejuvenation and general maintenance.
Given that CBD is a natural inflammatory with antioxidant properties, it comes with a long list of benefits for your skin. Apart from making skin appear more youthful and healthier, CBD topicals can also reduce redness, sores, dryness and itchiness.
The most important thing to consider when looking the benefits of CBD oil for your skin care regimen is that well-balanced skin chemistry means inflammatory conditions like acne, as well as overactive oil production, will lead to more radiant skin with fewer visible wrinkles and a more even tone.
Why CBD is a better alternative
CBD therapy is still relatively young in the grand scheme of things, but the results coming from medical research point to a whole host of benefits that CBDs have over their counterparts currently in use. Serious conditions like arthritis and joint injuries are treated with very strong medications. Anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids, for example, are responsible for a long list of dangerous side effects and they can also be highly addictive. CBD, on the other hand, provides relief without taking away from a user’s quality of life which is why more and more people are gravitating towards CBD treatments for such a wide range of conditions.
Are there side effects of using CBD on the skin?
In general, CBDs come with virtually no serious side effects. Patients sometimes report minor issues with certain dosages and delivery methods, but those are usually rectified through a change in the treatment approach.
Other CBD products, such as ingestible options, can suppress the cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) enzyme found in the liver. This enzyme plays an important role in metabolizing many other medications, and suppressing it leads to a reduced effect of those medications. Fortunately, topical CBD products do not interfere with the liver or any other medications.
One thing to keep in mind when looking at side effects from any type of topical, be it medicinal or otherwise, is how the ingredients of the product will interact with your body’s chemistry or any other medications that you are taking. Before using large amounts of any new product, it is always a good idea to make sure that you are not going to have an allergic reaction to it.
Are CBD topicals right for you?
Determining whether CBD treatment is right for you comes down to two main considerations. The first, and most obvious, is whether CBD is legal in your state. If not, you will have to check with your local laws to see if there is any way that you can safely try CBD therapy. The second thing that you’ll have to consider is what form of topical treatment would be best for your needs. Once you have decided on a product that suits your lifestyle, decide on a usage schedule and stick to it. Keep tabs on the effectiveness of the treatment that you are administering, so you can adjust frequency, potency, and quantities according to the results you experience.
