Getting Under Your Skin
OUR MUST-READ A-Z GUIDE ON CBD FOR SKIN CONDITIONS
We all know it, the relationship with our skin is a journey. We have ups and downs, good days and bad, and we are emotionally invested in the entire process. This is because our skin is innately connected with our self-esteem. Experiencing a lack of confidence due to a skin condition isn’t confined to the teenage years either. We can break out at any age, and other skin conditions can occur throughout adulthood. While our skin links so deeply with our confidence, it also ties in with our overall health.
Everyone’s heard the thing about it being our body’s largest organ, which effectively means it’s a living, evolving thing all its own, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Research shows factors like the gut-skin axis are notable, as are the connections between our skin and our mental and physical well-being. By better understanding what impacts our skin and how to care for it, we can tackle conditions head-on. Interestingly, natural remedies including CBD have potentially powerful therapeutic benefits in this arena too. Here’s all you need to know about skin conditions, how to manage them, and where CBD and other natural treatments slot in.
We all know it, the relationship with our skin is a journey. We have ups and downs, good days and bad, and we are emotionally invested in the entire process. This is because our skin is innately connected with our self-esteem. Experiencing a lack of confidence due to a skin condition isn’t confined to the teenage years either. We can break out at any age, and other skin conditions can occur throughout adulthood. While our skin links so deeply with our confidence, it also ties in with our overall health.
Everyone’s heard the thing about it being our body’s largest organ, which effectively means it’s a living, evolving thing all its own, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Research shows factors like the gut-skin axis are notable, as are the connections between our skin and our mental and physical well-being. By better understanding what impacts our skin and how to care for it, we can tackle conditions head-on. Interestingly, natural remedies including CBD have potentially powerful therapeutic benefits in this arena too. Here’s all you need to know about skin conditions, how to manage them, and where CBD and other natural treatments slot in.
Let’s Talk Skin Conditions
In loose terms, a skin condition is anything that affects your skin (obvious, right). If we drill down, this can cover conditions that are genetic or due to lifestyle factors. Just as the list of skin conditions and their causes are wide-ranging, the options for treatments are huge. From OTC topicals and medications to products from a global multi-billion-dollar skincare industry. Yep, it can get confusing quickly.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, the best place to start is with your specific condition. Learning all about it, what may be causing it, and getting advice from your doctor is the way forwards. Once you’re informed, you can start thinking about the ways to manage it. Here’s a little background to some common skin conditions to kickstart your research.
- Acne – For anyone who’s experienced acne, you’ll know the fight is real. But by battling our skin, we are making enemies of it. Know that acne can appear at any time, as babies, adolescents, and adults. There are also different types of acne, including inflammatory and noninflammatory, and subtypes within that. By understanding your type and the causes, you can take steps to treat it.
- Eczema – Characterized by red, itchy skin, eczema is a common skin condition that results in uncomfortable dryness and irritation. It can affect both children and adults, with estimates showing that 1 in 10 people can get it in their lifetime. Fortunately, there are many ways to relieve that itchy feeling, including natural remedies.
- Psoriasis – Causing flaky and scaly patches of skin, psoriasis can appear over the body and face. Another common skin condition, its causes are not fully understood but is believed to be an autoimmune disorder. Genetic and environmental factors are both possible, and there is a range of ways to treat them.
- Rosacea – Usually appearing on the face, rosacea is a chronic skin condition that typically develops in adulthood. Causing a redness or flushing in the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead, it can leave skin stressed and irritated and needs the right combination of treatments to soothe it.
- Sunburn – If you’ve experienced sunburn, you’ll know that it’s no laughing matter. Doctors advise that you should seek medical attention if the sunburn causes blistering on more than 20% of your body. In the case of sunburn, prevention is the first line of defense, which includes smart moves like wearing and reapplying sunscreen, keeping out of the sun when it’s at its peak, and covering up. If you are afflicted, there are ways to soothe the burn at home.
- Dermatitis – A type of eczema, dermatitis brings dry, itchy skin which is irritated further by scratching. Thankfully, there are plenty of natural remedies to bring effective relief for this condition.
Remember, getting a diagnosis from your healthcare provider is an important first step if you’re experiencing any skin condition. This is the most reliable way to discover what’s happening to your skin so you can move forwards with the right advice in treating it.
You’ll note that we threw in a mention of the gut-skin axis a little earlier. This is an important element in the health of our skin, with studies showing that the microbiome (AKA the microorganisms in your skin) plays a significant role in skin disorders. Ultimately, the microbiome is our body’s regulator, communicating with other parts of the body.
Research shows there’s a strong link between gut and skin, with the health of our skin being a signifying of how happy our gut is. As 70% of our immune system lies in the gut, our digestive health is crucial to our overall well-being. And yup, this link crops up in studies time and again in connection to conditions like rosacea, acne, and eczema.
All this talk of healthy gut/healthy skin or vice versa might lead you to wonder about diet. Sure enough, a healthy diet is one important lifestyle choice that can make all the difference to our skin, as it can with our wider health. That makes it imperative to note that a good diet is something you should investigate right off the bat. That can include drinking plenty of water, eating whole foods, and getting a varied, healthy diet that eliminates inflammatory foods.
But what about topicals? As we know, medications are one route, but the truth is that many OTC creams and lotions also contain toxic and even carcinogenic ingredients, which may not feel right for you. When you are troubled by symptoms like itching and dryness, there are alternative, natural and non-toxic treatments you can try to alleviate them.
A condition that can appear at any age, acne can be treated with readily available natural ingredients. Baking soda is one example, which can be blended into a mask to neutralize the skin’s pH and unclog pores. Apple cider vinegar, turmeric, honey, fine-grained salt, and tea tree oil are all others to try.
Replenishing the skin’s hydration and protecting it from further moisture loss is pivotal to managing eczema symptoms. Some natural ways to do this include using tallow, colloidal oatmeal, coconut oil, sunflower oil, calendula cream, and witch hazel. Evening primrose oil can also be applied or taken orally along with vitamin D supplements and acupuncture may also provide results. Loose, natural fibers and UV light can also help support natural relief.
Treatments like acupuncture, massage, and physical therapy have shown promising results in the treatment of psoriasis. If you’re also interested in the idea of non-toxic topicals, aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, oats, tea tree oil, and capsaicin are all on the list. Bathing in dead sea salts may also provide relief.
Rosacea is a skin condition that requires not just a way of hydrating skin but soothing the redness and inflammation. Aloe vera crops up again as a good topical with promise for this condition, along with burdock, chamomile, coconut oil, comfrey, green tea, and oatmeal. Niacinamide is another skincare ingredient commonly found in products, which may help.
As we know, severe sunburn must be treated by a medical professional, but if you have a milder case, you will still need a remedy for the discomfort. Cold compresses, aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, oatmeal, cucumber, and coconut oil can all soothe and bring the inflammation down.
Just like other types of eczema, alleviating the symptoms of dermatitis begins with soothing the skin with a protective, hydrating layer. Oils like coconut oils can be effective in this quest, along with soothing oatmeal, honey, apple cider vinegar, and aloe vera. Just look up the best way to apply each one.
CBD for Skin Conditions
You’ll notice that many skin conditions have something in common, that is, they involve inflammation. This is where CBD shows promise as an alternative remedy, with its powerful anti-inflammatory properties and promising therapeutic value by engaging with the skin’s cannabinoid receptors. CBD products can be applied both topically and taken orally to get the full benefit of supporting the skin. Here is a quick look at how you could integrate it into your treatment plan.
Studies show that CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can directly affect the gut and may provide gut-axis support. CBD may also help with leaky gut, providing regenerative properties for aiding in gut healing. As the gut is the barometer for your skin health, taking care of it through healthy dietary choices is key, and supplementing it with an oral CBD product may provide additional relief.
Tip: Try our GLOW Full-Spectrum CBD Care Capsules to boost your gut-axis support.
When applied topically, CBD interacts directly with the cannabinoid receptors located throughout the skin. Studies demonstrate that CBD may offer anti-inflammatory properties while balancing the skin’s sebum production in order to help with acne.
By reducing your body’s inflammatory response, CBD topicals could play an important role in the management of conditions like sunburn. As it acts as an anti-inflammatory, it may effectively reduce pain and redness.
Tip: Try our BALANCE Everyday Full-Spectrum CBD Tincture mixed with aloe as the ultimate soother.
While studies are in their infancy, CBD may offer therapeutic benefits for a range of other skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, and other inflammatory conditions. Promising results have been reported anecdotally from the use of topical creams and balms, as well as ingestible products. CBD’s anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving potential may offer symptom support for these conditions. Since many of these skin conditions are autoimmune in nature, CBD may also offer therapeutic promise for the root cause.
Tip: For instant skin-soothing, bathe in SOAK Indulgent CBD Bath Salts and hydrate post-bath with RESTORE Deep Relief Full-Spectrum CBD Cream. For instant relief in isolated areas, double up with SOOTHE Comforting CBD Body Balm.
Both topical and ingestible CBD products can be utilized for different promising therapeutic purposes when it comes to skin conditions. Incorporating one or more of these products into your skincare routine may offer you the benefits you’re looking for when it comes to symptom support. Like any other product or supplementation, it’s always best to start one at a time so you can determine what’s working and what’s not. Journaling your experience and making notes of skin changes can also help you create the best-personalized treatment for you.
When trying CBD, it’s important to speak to your doctor first especially if you’re taking any medication. Since CBD can pose drug interactions, you’ll need to discuss this for both ingestible and topical products. Such a minimal amount of CBD actually makes it to the bloodstream when applied topically and shouldn’t be an issue but we always recommend erring on the side of caution and speaking to your trusted healthcare provider first.
Press Pause CBD for Skin Conditions
Everything in the Press Pause specialty range of CBD wellness products is made with the highest quality CBD, in clinically-backed formulations. This enables you to get the maximum benefit from our products and know that you are choosing a brand that includes zero toxic ingredients. To see how we can help, speak to our team for more information or browse our shop!
