In a recent survey conducted, 81 candidates out of 500 total candidates who gave their consensus for the survey accepted that they had used the cannabis products over-the-counter to treat skin problems like acne, rosacea, and psoriasis without a prescription from a medical practitioner and more people wants to try these products.
Dermatologists Warn Against Using CBD & Cannabis For Acne & Psoriasis
The number of people using CBD or cannabis products has increased drastically to treat skin problems like acne and rosacea. Still, researchers have raised a red flag regarding their safety and science.
Hemp, a relative of the marijuana plant CBD, is procured from it. Dr. Adam Friedman, chair of dermatology at the George Washington School of medicine and health sciences in Washington D.C., said, “people are using these products without any direction of a dermatologist, and a large chunk of the population is interested in learning the use of these products”.
There is a perception among people that cannabis products or marijuana play an active role in treating skin diseases. Therefore, if a dermatologist, it is possible that you may ask them to use it as your patient might try these products.
Does Not Fall Under FDA Regulations
From a significant proportion of nearly 70 percent of patients who had visited a dermatologist, more than 20% were asked to use a CBD product, particularly for tackling the problems of acne and psoriasis. But the percentage of people who used medical cannabis, which requires an approved card from a dermatologist, was just 8%.
How to figure out if the product chosen by me is correct, you ask? one must always review the certificate of analysis (COA) by CBD. the document gives results of the testing of the supplements, and companies release it voluntarily.
Friedman added that it was noted by him, “reach out to the company if it is not online and if they don’t share it that is a red flag.” other ingredients should also be looked at, he said because if one is sensitive to other actives, one could react.
Since CBD products, in the same way, as drugs are not monitored by the U.S. food and drug administration, these are buyer beware, as stated by Friedman. He added that medical marijuana requires a card issued by the doctor’s prescription and can be only purchased from dispensaries run by the state. Hence, it is more quality controlled.
The findings were published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology in the January edition.
Further Research Needed
The experts not included in the study added much more to learn about CBD and medical marijuana in the skin and other related diseases.
According to Dr. Friedman, cannabinoids activate the body’s resolvin pathway, which reduces inflammation. In support of it, some encouraging animal data is available that supports how these products may help treat skin problems.
Also, topical CBD products can have wound healing, anti-itch, anti-inflammatory properties in skin diseases. They do not have the same issues as products with THC (which is the psychoactive component of the marijuana plant) and also appear to be very safe.
Lio stressed that a patch test should always be done. Any product can cause issues, specifically those related to sensitive skin.
Dr Peter Lio, clinical assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at northwestern university Feinberg school of medicine in Chicago, said that everything from the correct component of CBD, the proper formulation and proper dose needs to be hammered out.
Moyad said, “people need answers, and the products are here to stay, which implies that more funding should be allocated to research because we need to find where the products can prove to be helpful.”
