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Cannabis for Acne by Peter Kershaw , Contributing Writer
─ Who Knew !
Acne Vulgaris is an annoying yet surprisingly common skin condition that occurs when hair follicles get clogged with oil , skin cells , and bacteria . Symptoms include blackheads , whiteheads , pimples , and sometimes painful nodules under the skin . Acne affects approximately 50 million Americans each year . Those most affected are 85 % of Americans between the ages of 12 and 24 . Thankfully the problem often diminishes as we age . Because of that , acne is commonly referred to as “ a teenage condition .” Unfortunately , that ’ s not always the case . Millions of Americans in their 30s , 40s , and even 50s have yet to grow out of it . Over 25 % of women and 12 % of men in their 40s report having acne , and that trend appears to be worsening .
Acne most commonly presents on the upper body , particularly the face , shoulders , back , and chest . Though embarrassing and annoying , in many cases , acne outbreaks can also be rather mild and treatable at home . Patients with severe cases might feel compelled to seek the services of a dermatologist . According to the American Academy of Dermatology , as of 2013 , the annual costs associated with medical treatment and lost productivity for acne were over $ 1.2 billion . 1 Severe cases should not go ignored because of the risk of permanent scarring .
What Are Its Causes ?
Knowing what causes and / or exacerbates acne enables us to take steps to mitigate it , if not prevent it altogether :
● Excess oil ( sebum ) production
● Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells
● Bacteria ( the bad kind )
● Inflammation
● Hormonal changes
● Poor diet
● Stress
The puberty hormones that begin surging in our teen years may result in a significantly increase in sebum production ( sometimes noticeable as “ oily skin ”) clogging hair follicles . When combined with bacteria , this can create an acne outbreak . Exacerbating the problem is the typical teen diet heavy on processed junk foods and sugary drinks .
Skin Care for Minimizing Acne
There is no shortage of over-the-counter skin cleansers and treatments promising results in treating acne . Some are quite expensive . If they worked and did so safely , they ’ d probably be worth it . But unfortunately , many of them are quite harsh , throwing the skin off its natural balance . Many people report these products irritate the skin . What may have started as a minor acne annoyance can result in a major problem , necessitating expensive visits with a dermatologist .
Aside from being harsh to the skin , a major problem with such products is rather than being selective about killing only bad bacteria , they kill all bacteria , including the good kind . Think of skin health as having similarities to digestive health : For our bodies to digest food and make nutrients bioavailable , our gut must have a proper balance of good bacteria . If we ’ re lacking that , we can supplement by taking probiotics . 2 A simple and inexpensive probiotic for the skin is apple cider vinegar ( ACV ) ( raw and unfiltered ). Among other things , ACV is rich in acetic and lactic acid bacteria . ACV not only makes an excellent skin cleanser and conditioner ( dilute 50 / 50 w / distilled water , apply using a cotton ball ), it leaves a coating of healthy bacteria that
54 May 2023 overwhelms the baddies . Many report it also makes a great underarm deodorant ( underarm sweat is a petri dish for bad bacteria ). And while we ’ re on ACV , a tablespoon stirred into a glass of water ( sweetened to taste ) drunk daily also improves digestive health .
Rather than using harsh chemical skin cleansers , stick with gentle soaps , such as castile soap . Use a loofah or soft facial brush to gently remove dead skin cells . Many have also gotten impressive results by incorporating various essential oils into their skin treatment regimen . My personal Skin Rejuvenate blend ( applied after skin cleansing ) incorporates Helichrysum , Sage , Frankincense , Carrot Seed , Sea Buckthorn , Calendula , and Vitamin E , in a base ( carrier ) of Rose Hip , Hazelnut Oil , Neem , and Tamanu . Less expensive essential oils that also work well for targeting acne are Tea Tree and Lavender , which are gentle enough to be applied “ neat .”
Cannabis and Acne
For years dermatologists and other medical professionals have passed around the myth that smoking cannabis causes acne . Rather than citing studies to make their case ( of which there are none ), their alleged proof is studies of the effects of tobacco cigarettes on the skin . Indeed , smoking cigarettes is terrible for the skin . But as this author has shown in several prior articles , there is little to nothing in common between smoking cannabis and smoking cancer sticks .
However , this isn ’ t to say we have much to prove that cannabis can prevent acne , either . We do have cannabis studies with confirmed effects that may prove beneficial for ameliorating acne . For example , cannabis can alleviate anxiety and stress , and since stress exacerbates acne , cannabis may reduce acne . More significantly , cannabis has proven anti-inflammatory properties that might prove extremely beneficial in tamping down the inflammation common to acne .
The most promising use of cannabis for acne is as a topical . Unfortunately , we have no clinical studies to date specific to fullspectrum cannabis and acne . What we have are many reports of excellent results , but that ’ s all anecdotal . CBD alone , however , has been extensively studied specifically for acne . Even minus the THC , the results are quite promising . Among other things , it ’ s been shown that CBD can lower sebum production levels , and this can have a direct impact on mitigating acne . 3 As good as CBD has been shown to work for acne , it ’ s likely that full-spectrum cannabis will be just that much better .
For a full-spectrum cannabalm recipe , see this author ’ s September 2021 article , Topical Cannabis for Skin Conditions . 4
1 . https :// www . aad . org / media / stats-numbers 2 . https :// joom . ag / hTYI / p46 Gastrointestinal Disorders and Cannabis 3 . https :// www . medicalnewstoday . com / articles / 324689 4 . https :// joom . ag / UTDI / p22
Peter Kershaw is a Patient Caregiver , an organic cannabis cultivation consultant , and extraction consultant . Contact him at pkershaw . email @ gmail . com or text to 417-230-4445 . As with all writers within these pages , if you ’ ve benefited from Peter ’ s articles , please let him and all writers know . They appreciate your thoughts .
Notice : The information contained herein is not intended as medical advice , diagnosis or treatment advice , but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research and experience . The content is for general informational purposes only . As always , check with your doctor first .