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7 Ways Cannabis Topicals Enhance Summer Skin Care
7 Ways Cannabis Topicals Enhance Summer Skin Care
7 Surprising Ways Cannabis Topicals Supercharge Your Summer Skin Protection & Recovery
As much as we look forward to the warmth of summer, your skin can pay a hefty price for long days of fun in the sun. Preventing sun damage by slathering your skin with heavy-duty chemicals isn’t healthy.
As an alternative, scientists have begun looking at the preventative and healing properties of natural compounds, like Cannabidiol (CBD). Recent studies have found that CBD can help speed up the healing process for sun-damaged skin, and in some instances, it may even help prevent that damage from occurring in the first place.
Here’s what we know so far.
1. CBD Acts as an Antioxidant Shield Against Sun-Induced Skin Aging
Basking in the summer sun is one of those guilty pleasures that feels good but is not good for you. In this case, those warm rays of sunshine are bathing your skin with the ultraviolet radiation that contributes to premature skin aging.
In a recent George Washington University study, researchers compared CBD cream in a side-by-side trial with a non-CBD cream, finding that CBD was able to prevent more of the skin damage and skin-cell mutations associated with skin aging caused by UVA exposure.
Most people are familiar with the reddened, painful skin of a sunburn. This redness is the visible evidence of inflammation and damage at the cellular level. In the study, 21% of participants saw less of the redness associated with skin damage in skin treated with CBD cream compared to skin that was treated with non-CBD cream.
These protective qualities weren’t just skin deep. Biopsy samples revealed that skin treated with CBD cream showed less thickening when compared to samples from skin that was treated with the non-CBD cream. This skin thickening is an early sign of sun damage and a contributor to the leathery, rough look of skin that has suffered premature skin aging as a result of sun exposure.
2. CBD is a Potent Sunburn Soother
The sun’s rays are packed with UVA radiation. Even small amounts of UVA exposure cause skin inflammation and oxidative cell damage. So, spending the better part of the day outdoors means that, unless you’re faithfully reapplying sunscreen after every dip in the pool,you’ll you’ll be nursing a sunburn.
A sunburn is bad news for your skin’s health. The good news is that the GWU study discussed above shows that CBD can act as a potent soothing cream for sunburned skin. The study was conducted on participants with Fitzpatrick skin types I-III, the lightest skin types. These skin types are quickly sunburned because they have the lowest levels of melanin, a natural compound that gives skin color and protects it from damaging UVA rays. CBD cream was shown to reduce the redness associated with sunburn in 21% of these sunburn-prone participants.
CBD is an anti-inflammatory powerhouse, so it is not surprising that research has shown CBD cream can be effective for soothing the painful itchiness of sunburned skin.
3. CBD is a Guardian Against DNA Damage
The GWU study also revealed findings that highlight CBD’s ability to reduce the DNA damage caused by exposure to UVA rays. Biopsied skin samples from study participants showed clear evidence that the skin treated with CBD cream displayed fewer markers of mitochondrial DNA damage. Mitochondrial DNA damage is a major contributor to the long-term skin damage that causes premature skin aging and can lead to skin cancer.
4. CBD Complements but Doesn’t Replace Sunscreen
So, should you replace your sunscreen with CBD cream? Absolutely not. CBD shows protective capabilities, but it’s not an adequate replacement for your regular sunscreen routine. With more than 2-3 million non-melanoma skin cancers diagnosed annually, it’s crucial to layer sun protection, like CBD creams and sunscreens, to provide maximum protection.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends the following:
- Use a potent sunscreen rated SPF 30 or higher for optimal skin protection.
- Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes prior to sun exposure to allow time for it to be absorbed by your skin.
- Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin, including areas of your scalp that are not adequately covered by hair.
- Apply a fresh coat of sunscreen every 2 hours. You will also need to reapply after swimming or sweating.
- Avoid outdoor activities when the sun is at its hottest between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.
5. CBD Improves the Appearance of Sun-Damaged Skin
The discomfort of a sunburn is just one problem. As your skin heals, you’re left with trying to cover up the peeling for days afterward. The GWU study revealed evidence that CBD cream may help stave off the natural reaction that causes this skin peeling in the first place. In the study, researchers found that sun-damaged skin exhibited less peeling and cracking when treated with CBD cream compared to skin treated with a non-CBD cream.
6. CBD Reduces Chronic Summer Skin Stress
Many people with sensitive skin or skin conditions experience a flare-up of their symptoms during the summer months. CBD’s strong anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce these heat-induced flare-ups by preventing the inflammation that triggers the skin reactions that people with eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions dread.
7. CBD Cream Feels Good in a Way You Can Feel Good About
There is no way around it. The summer sun, combined with salty sea water or chlorinated swimming pool water, will leave your skin parched. Remedying this dry skin means slathering on thick lotions that can wind up feeling slick and greasy. Worse still, these products are often packed with chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin, exacerbating the problem you were trying to solve.
CBD creams can help in this area as well. Most cannabis topicals are formulated with organic ingredients, so they’re free of irritating chemicals, making them safe for sensitive skin. Severe skin reactions to cannabis products are extremely rare, and most users should have no adverse effects, even when applying CBD creams frequently. As a bonus, the plant-based formulation favored by CBD cream manufacturers is lighter, so they just feel better on your skin, and that’s something you can feel good about.
Final Thoughts
Cannabis topicals help protect, soothe, and restore sun-damaged skin. Take the sting out of summer with a topical cream that works with your summer skin, not against it. Discover your new summer skin routine at MyCompassionateClinic.com.
