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Review
. 2020 Dec 8:13:927-942.
doi: 10.2147/CCID.S286411. eCollection 2020.

Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Skin Health and Disorders

Sudhir M Baswan #  1 , Allison E Klosner #  2 , Kelly Glynn  1 , Arun Rajgopal  1 , Kausar Malik  1 , Sunghan Yim  1 , Nathan Stern  1
Affiliations
Review

Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Skin Health and Disorders

Sudhir M Baswan et al. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. .

Abstract

Though there is limited research confirming the purported topical benefits of cannabinoids, it is certain that cutaneous biology is modulated by the human endocannabinoid system (ECS). Receptors from the ECS have been identified in the skin and systemic abuse of synthetic cannabinoids, and their analogs, have also been associated with the manifestation of dermatological disorders, indicating the effects of the ECS on cutaneous biology. In particular, cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound from the cannabis plant, has garnered significant attention in recent years for its anecdotal therapeutic potential for various pathologies, including skin and cosmetic disorders. Though a body of preclinical evidence suggests topical application of CBD may be efficacious for some skin disorders, such as eczema, psoriasis, pruritis, and inflammatory conditions, confirmed clinical efficacy and elucidation of underlying molecular mechanisms have yet to be fully identified. This article provides an update on the advances in CBD research to date and the potential areas of future exploration.

Keywords: AEA; CB1; CB2; CBD; FAAH; cannabidiol; cannabinoids; endocannabinoid system; endocannabinoids; skin.

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Conflict of interest statement

All the authors are employees of Amway Corporation which has commercial offerings in the wellness space. The authors report no other potential conflicts of interest for this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of the key components of the ECS in different cellular compartments of the skin.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Modulation of the ECS by endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids in presynaptic neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chemical Structures of 9 endocannabinoids found in human skin.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Chemical structures of the most common phytocannabinoids found in the hemp plant.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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