An effective treatment for a variety of health concerns, from pain relief to anxiety and insomnia, cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD oil, is the natural remedy of the moment.

In an unexpected twist, CBD oil is also being hailed as an elixir for a number of skin conditions including acne, eczema and rosacea. Walk into any high street shop and you’ll notice the growing number of hemp-based beauty products on sale, all claiming to leave you with clear, glowing skin.

But is there scientific evidence to back this up or are they simply riding on the CBD bandwagon? We speak to Dr Ross Perry, GP and owner of skin clinic chain Cosmedics, about the efficacy of CBD-oil as a skincare product.

Is CBD oil an effective skincare treatment?

CBD oil comes with antioxidant properties which might benefit your skin, particularly if you suffer from acne, eczema, rosacea or other skin conditions that stem from inflammation.

‘There’s a lot of buzz around CBD in skincare and a plethora of new products entering the market at the moment,’ says Dr Perry. ‘The reason for excitement is that cannabidiol has anti-inflammatory properties and some believe that this is helpful in treating skin concerns such as eczema, psoriasis, dryness and acne.’

Cannabidiol is the psychoactive substance of marijuana, so using a CBD beauty product won’t get you high. Usually, hemp seed oil forms the basis of these products and acts as an emollient with a soothing effect.

‘A study in 2014 showed promising results for CBD in treating acne by regulating the production of sebum, which is excessive oiliness,’ says Dr Perry.

So while it’s not guaranteed to cure your skin condition, it might be worth considering the CBD route as a natural treatment to your skin concerns.

What’s the catch?

While the research so far indicates that CBD infused products can work as effective skincare products, the jury is out with regards to more serious skin conditions. Essentially, more research is needed before we reach a conclusion, because there is insufficient clinical evidence – as of yet.

‘If you are struggling to find a skincare regime for mild to moderate acne, you could try CBD products if you are interested in that route,’ says Dr Perry.

‘However, for moderate to severe acne, I would advocate one of the professional or cosmeceutical ranges with high levels of active ingredients, or else a treatment such as laser to target the source of the problem by killing the acne bacteria in the pores.’

Source: netdoctor.co.uk