CBD Gummies for Skin Health: Benefits & Uses

If you feel like you’re seeing CBD pop up everywhere, you’re not alone; CBD is certainly having a moment. It’s no surprise, given the many wellness benefits CBD offers. One of the latest trends for CBD is for skin health, with skincare enthusiasts touting the benefits of topical products containing CBD as well as the effects supplements like CBD gummies can have for skin health.

What are CBD Gummies?

Let’s start with cannabidiol, or CBD. This non-intoxicating, naturally-occurring compound can be extracted from hemp and marijuana plants (which are both members of the cannabis plant family). CBD interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system, or ECS, the network of receptors and messengers that regulate many bodily processes. CBD works by mimicking the messengers and influencing the receptors of the endocannabinoid system, helping regulate your body into homeostasis, or balance.

CBD can be used in many forms, including topical applications like balms or skincare products and ingested products like tinctures, softgels and gummies. CBD gummies are an especially popular (and convenient) way to take CBD.

How CBD Can Benefit Skin Health

Many of CBD’s benefits come from helping our bodies find homeostasis, and its benefits for skin health are no different. Some research is beginning to show a link between CBD’s ability to regulate skin homeostasis and a healthy skin barrier (more on that below).

In addition to direct effects on our skin, CBD can also indirectly affect skin health. Research has shown that skin health can be negatively affected by stress levels and by not sleeping enough – two things that CBD can also help with!

Why Choose CBD Gummies Over Other Forms?

We already mentioned that CBD comes in numerous different forms, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. CBD gummies are a popular form since they come with consistent, pre-measured amounts of CBD or other active ingredients, meaning you get the right amount each time without having to measure. Plus, gummies are convenient and travel-friendly, with a delicious taste! But it’s worth noting that gummies can take a little longer after consumption to kick in compared to some other forms; many people find that it takes one to two hours to feel the effects of their gummies.

Understanding Skin Health and Common Skin Concerns

The Role of Skin in Overall Health

Your skin is largest organ, and in many ways acts as a protective barrier, shielding your body from UV rays, harmful bacteria and viruses, and other environmental stressors. Since it’s more visible than most of our organs, changes in the skin can sometimes be one of the first things we notice when something is going on in the body, such as the red butterfly-shaped facial rash that can occur with lupus or the yellow skin tint that can occur with liver disease. And some new research is showing a link between the gut microbiome and skin disease, though the exact details of this link are still being explored.¹

Common Skin Issues: Acne, Eczema, Dryness, Sensitivity and Aging

Unfortunately, the fact that our skin is so visible also means that many common skin issues, while not otherwise serious, are publicly visible and potentially embarrassing. Teenage acne is one of the first skin issues many people encounter, whether in themselves or in others. Like many skin conditions, the exact causes of acne can vary from person to person and may be nuanced; the American Academy of Dermatology Association reports that, while hormonal changes are a common cause, acne can also be affected by stress, getting too little sleep, using oily skin care or hair products, or even smoking nicotine.

Many other common skin conditions are caused or exacerbated by a weakened skin barrier, including dry skin, sensitive skin, and eczema, which causes itchy and inflamed skin. And while we hesitate to call it a “skin issue,” aging skin does experience certain changes, including becoming thinner and less resilient.

Factors That Impact Skin Health: Diet, Environment, Stress and Inflammation

In many ways, our skin health can be seen as a bellwether for other aspects of health. Many of the factors that impact our skin health also impact other parts of our body; for example, eating too much added sugar can cause acne in some people, as well as affecting their weight and metabolic health. Allergies, infections and some autoimmune diseases can cause rashes, hives, blisters and other signs of inflammation, as well as internal symptoms.

Stress is another major factor for both our skin health and overall wellness. Psychological stress can disrupt the skin barrier and prolong its repair² – and as we’ve already seen, a weakened skin barrier can contribute to acne, eczema, sensitive skin and a number of other skin conditions. Stress can exacerbate many skin conditions, including acne and eczema. Stress hormones can also break down the collagen and elastin in skin, speeding up the aging process and causing more fine lines and wrinkles.³ 

How CBD Supports Skin Health

CBD and the Endocannabinoid System: Impact on Skin Homeostasis

Research into CBD’s benefits is in its infancy in general, and its effects on skin health are no exception. However, there are some studies beginning to shed light on what this cannabinoid can do for skin.

Some research has shown that cannabinoid signaling is deeply involved in the maintenance of skin homeostasis, barrier formation and regeneration, and that its dysregulation can contribute to a number of skin disorders like acne, pigmentation disorders, atopic dermatitis and more.⁴ Other research has found that the ECS in the skin appears to control the proliferation, differentiation and survival of skin cells, and that pathological alterations in the activity of the ECS in the skin might promote or lead to the development of certain skin diseases.⁵

Antioxidant Effects: Fighting Free Radicals and Slowing Aging

Many skincare enthusiasts will swear by their antioxidant products, and for good reason. Antioxidants are a type of ingredient that fight free radicals to reverse and prevent the damage they cause, including inflammation, signs of premature aging like wrinkles, and even skin cancer. Since free radicals can be hard to avoid completely (they’re often a result of exposure to the sun, air pollution, or stress), reaching for ingredients that help reduce their impact can help stop or slow that damage.

Once again, the research into CBD’s impact here is in its infancy. But CBD has been shown to interrupt free radical chain reactions, capturing free radicals or transforming them into less active forms,⁶ and one in vitro study found that CBD was able to penetrate cells and balance the oxidative stress response resulting from UVB irradiation and hydrogen peroxide.⁷

Sebum Regulation: Managing Acne and Oily Skin

Some skin conditions are caused or exacerbated by an imbalance of oil production. Dry skin does not produce enough oil, contributing to its inability to hold in moisture. Oily skin, on the other hand, produces excess oil, which can contribute to acne and other conditions.

The research here is, unsurprisingly, also early. But with studies confirming the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD¹⁰ and confirming that CBD signaling is a key contributor to skin homeostasis, or balance,⁴ some researchers are starting to look more closely at whether this cannabinoid could impact skin conditions involving an imbalance of oil production, like acne.  

Key Benefits of CBD Gummies for Skin Health: The Connection Between Stress, Sleep and Skin Health

We’ve already seen how stress can affect the health and appearance of your skin, but sleep plays a role too. Skin cell regeneration largely occurs in the evening, and collagen production can increase during this time as well. Not only can inadequate sleep affect your skin’s ability to recover from stressors like skin barrier disruption or sun exposure, but chronic sleep deprivation can actually accelerate intrinsic aging.⁸ On small study found that even two nights of sleep restriction significantly altered the skin and facial appearances of the women in the study!⁹

Luckily, CBD can help with both sleep and stress levels. In a December 2019 customer survey, 88% of CBD users reported that CBD helped with mild or temporary anxiety, 89% of CBD users reported that CBD helped calm their mind, and 89% of CBD users reported that CBD helped them sleep better. In the same survey, the most-commonly-reported benefits felt by users within 7 to 14 days included more relaxation and better sleep.

How to Choose the Best CBD Gummies for Skin Health

With seemingly-endless options, choosing the best CBD gummies can be hard. But you can start by narrowing down which one best fits your specific needs.

Understanding Different CBD Types: Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum and Isolate

CBD gummies can be made from full spectrum hemp extract, broad spectrum hemp extract, or CBD isolate. Full spectrum hemp extract is a full-plant extract containing naturally occurring CBD, as well as other minor cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and less than 0.3% THC. Full spectrum CBD allows you to fully experience the Entourage Effect, the synergistic way that the different plant components in hemp have a greater effect when working together than they do individually. Broad spectrum hemp extract undergoes some processing that maintains the hemp plant’s CBD, minor cannabinoids and terpenes, but removes THC (though trace amounts less than 0.01% may remain). Isolate CBD undergoes additional processing to remove all other molecules, resulting in pure CBD that is THC-free.

Checking for High-Quality Ingredients: Third-Party Testing, No Artificial Ingredients

There’s a lot more in CBD gummies than just CBD, and these ingredients are worth paying attention to as well. Some gummies contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial food dyes or artificial food flavorings. And while some companies perform quality testing to ensure their gummies meet quality standards and have consistent amounts of CBD, many perform quality testing sporadically or not at all!

When you choose CBD gummies from CBDistillery, you can feel confident about what you’re getting. Our gummies are vegan and contain all natural flavors and colors, organic tapioca syrup and organic cane sugar instead of corn syrup, and no artificial preservatives.  Plus, EVERY batch of our gummies is third-party lab-tested to ensure the highest quality and consistent serving sizes. And because the best results come with consistency (like most things related to skin care), our subscription program makes it easy to stay consistent with automatic refills while saving 20%-30% with every subscription order!

Sources:

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2. N. Nathan. (2021, April 14). Stress may be getting to your skin, but it’s not a one-way street. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/stress-may-be-getting-to-your-skin-but-its-not-a-one-way-street-2021041422334
3. American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2022, July 21). Feeling stressed? It can show in your skin, hair, and nails. https://www.aad.org/news/stress-shows-in-skin-hair-nails
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