Acne

Who wouldn’t want to get rid of those unsightly acne pimples and have clear, beautiful skin?

What is Acne?

Acne is the medical term used to describe the skin condition that is characterized by pimples, blackheads, whiteheads and more.  

Acne often comes about as a result of excessively oily skin; the oil glands in the skin produce oil that ends up blocking the skin’s pores where the hair follicles grow. Sometimes bacteria on the surface of the skin also causes acne by entering the skin’s pores causing inflammation which is presented as a pimple on the skin’s surface.

Acne is not only a teenage problem, although many teenagers do have acne as a result of hormonal changes that affect the production of sebum in the skin.

How is acne treated?

Acne treatments include facial cleansers, masks and topical creams meant to dry out the excess oil and as a result clear the problem.  Other treatments include facials to unblock and clean out pores so as to remove the presence of pimples, blackheads and whiteheads as well as the use of antibiotics to reduce the bacteria on the skin, in the case of moderate to severe acne.  People are always looking for other natural, easy and effective ways to treat their acne.  

This is where CBD comes in. CBD, cannabidiol, is a derivative of the cannabis plant.  It is one of two key elements in the cannabis plant, along with THC.  However, unlike THC, it will not make you “high” since it is not psychoactive.

CBD works by interacting with the endocannabinoid systems in the body.  It is not well known how these systems work but by interacting with the body’s cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), CBD can affect the body’s immune system. 

How can CBD help treat acne?

CBD can help you treat your acne topically thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. CBD also acts as an antioxidant and helps your skin regulate its sebum-producing glands so as to reduce the amount of oil present in your skin and reducing the potential for acne to develop.

For people with sensitive skin or allergic reactions to retinol or benzoyl peroxide, the ingredients in many acne skincare products, CBD can make a huge difference in the treatment and resolution of their acne problem:  CBD oil will not dry out the skin and will protect it from harmful bacteria with its antimicrobial properties.  It soothes irritated and inflamed skin, and reduces the pain associated with such inflammation and is a gentler and safer treatment for many different skin types.  CBD oil used topically acts as a  hydrating agent that will rebalance your skin’s sebum production while calming any acne symptoms that are present and preventing any future symptoms. 

In short, CBD has revolutionised skincare and has given hope to acne sufferers across the board.