Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-05-31 Origin: Site
Cannabis is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Cannabis in the family Cannabaceae, distributed worldwide. Hemp seeds contain approximately 25–35% oil, 20–25% protein, 20–30% carbohydrates, and rich trace elements. Hemp seed oil exhibits significant effects in lowering cholesterol, antioxidation, and scavenging free radicals. It is safe and non-toxic, making it a functional oil with high application value, suitable for use in foods, health products, and more. The fibers derived from hemp stalks are excellent raw materials for textiles, papermaking, and construction. Cannabinoids found in hemp flowers and leaves are widely used in the fields of medicine and cosmetics.
Cannabinoids are a class of compounds with diverse biological activities and can be divided into three categories: (1) endocannabinoids, which naturally exist in and can be produced by the human body; (2) phytocannabinoids, which are found only in the cannabis plant; and (3) synthetic cannabinoids produced in laboratories. To date, more than 70 cannabinoids have been isolated from cannabis plants, primarily including THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive and addictive component), CBD (cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive component), CBC (cannabichromene), CBN (cannabinol), CBG (cannabigerol), among others. Among these, THC and CBD are the most abundant and are isomers of each other. Both THC and CBD possess medicinal value in areas such as anti-tumor effects, neuroprotection, immunomodulation, anti-inflammation, and antioxidation. In particular, CBD can regulate physiological processes, including skin growth and differentiation.
Recently, cannabinoids have gained attention for their application in skincare products. Related products claim to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, moisturizing, hydrating, and anti-wrinkle effects, with some even claiming anti-aging benefits. Others claim to treat acne, eczema, psoriasis, and pruritus (itching). However, research on cannabinoids in skin care remains very limited, and claims about skincare products containing cannabinoids may exceed our current scientific understanding, particularly regarding safety and efficacy.
Currently, there are some approved medical indications for cannabis use, including psoriasis, lupus, nail-patella syndrome, and severe pain. Direct evidence on medical cannabis for treating skin diseases is relatively limited, even among these approved indications. Furthermore, very preliminary studies suggest that cannabis and its derivatives may be used for psoriasis, acne, dermatitis, pruritus, wound healing, and skin cancer. To explore these potential uses, further well-controlled studies are needed. Additionally, the side effects of oral cannabis use are well-documented in the literature, and dermatologists should pay close attention to them.
The endocannabinoid system exists within the human body and includes endocannabinoid receptors (CB), endocannabinoids, as well as enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of the endocannabinoid system and membrane transport receptors. In recent years, biologically active endocannabinoid systems have been discovered in various skin cell types, including keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and sebocytes. Studies have shown that the endocannabinoid system participates in normal skin physiological and biochemical activities and plays a role in various inflammatory skin diseases.
Endocannabinoids are a class of biologically active lipid regulators produced by the body. They are endogenous lipid ligands for cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, and upon binding to CB receptors, they activate intracellular physiological activities. Classical endocannabinoids include two types: N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide, AEA), which belongs to the N-acylethanolamine class, and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), which belongs to the monoacylglycerol class. Both are metabolites of arachidonic acid. 2-AG is an agonist for both CB1 and CB2, whereas N-arachidonoylethanolamine is a specific agonist for CB1 and has a weaker effect on CB2. In the past, it was believed that CB1 primarily functions in the central nervous system, while CB2 is mainly expressed peripherally. However, recent studies have found that CB1 also participates in inflammatory responses and cell proliferation and differentiation in peripheral tissues. Additionally, exogenous synthetic or plant-derived cannabinoid-like substances can specifically bind to endogenous CB receptors, thereby activating or modulating the ECS.
Cannabinoids act as agonists on two main receptors, CB1 and CB2, both of which are G protein-coupled receptors distributed across different organ systems. Cannabinoids (such as THC, CBD, and endocannabinoids) bind specifically to these two receptors. The expression of CB1 and CB2 has been demonstrated in sensory nerve fibers, inflammatory cells, and appendageal structures of human skin. Based on this, topical application of cannabinoids has emerged as a therapeutic approach for skin diseases. The goal of such application is to influence skin morphology without producing psychoactive effects.
Anti-inflammatory Effects
Nam and colleagues investigated the effects of topical application of a CB1 agonist in mice with induced atopic dermatitis (AD) symptoms. Compared with vehicle treatment, the CB1 agonist significantly reduced mast cell recruitment (P < 0.01) and lowered plasma histamine levels (P < 0.05). Given the marked reduction in the release of inflammatory mediators, the authors hypothesized that topical CB1 agonists may be useful in several conditions associated with mast cell activation, such as AD, contact dermatitis, and psoriasis. These findings support the notion that topical THC may possess broad anti-inflammatory activity.
In a mouse model of allergic contact dermatitis, mice treated with topical THC showed reduced infiltration of bone marrow-derived immune cells. These beneficial effects were observed even in mice lacking CB1 and CB2 receptors, suggesting that THC may also exert anti-inflammatory effects independent of CB1 and CB2 receptors.
A study was conducted on 20 patients suffering from two of the most common skin diseases—psoriasis (5 cases), atopic dermatitis (5 cases), and resulting scars (10 cases). Over three months, subjects were instructed to apply a CBD-containing ointment to the affected skin areas twice daily. Based on skin evaluations (hydration, transepidermal water loss [TEWL], elasticity), clinical questionnaires, supplemented by photographic documentation and clinical assessments by investigators, topical application of CBD ointment was found to significantly improve skin parameters, symptoms, and index scores. No irritation or allergic reactions were observed during the treatment period. The results indicate that topical application of CBD ointment (without THC) is a safe and effective non-invasive treatment that can improve the quality of life of patients with certain skin diseases, particularly those with inflammatory skin conditions.
Anti-pruritic (Itch-Relieving) Effects
The most promising effect of cannabinoids may be in the treatment of pruritus (itching). Studies have found that CB1 and CB2 agonists reduce itching by activating receptors on cutaneous sensory nerve fibers, mast cells, and keratinocytes. The CB1 agonist anandamide (AEA) can also inhibit itching by interacting with VR/TRPV-1 receptors on mast cells and keratinocytes [8]. (TRPV-1 is a secondary cannabinoid receptor.)
In a study on patients with uremic pruritus undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, 8 out of 21 patients (38%) experienced complete elimination of itching following topical application of a cream containing structural lipids (dermal membrane structures) and cannabinoids twice daily for three weeks.
Stander and colleagues treated 22 patients with pruritus using palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) ointment. PEA promotes endocannabinoid activation of the CB1 receptor, achieving an antipruritic effect of 86.4%, with good patient tolerability.
Antibacterial Activity
THC and CBD exhibit certain inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 1 to 5 μg/mL. THC and CBD also show antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus EMRSA-15 and EMRSA-16 (commonly known as superbugs) as well as fluoroquinolone-resistant Staphylococcus aureus SA-1199B, with MIC values ranging from 0.5 to 2 μg/mL. This inhibitory activity of THC and CBD against superbugs suggests that the cannabis plant could serve as a potential source of new drugs to combat antibiotic resistance.
Treatment of Acne
The potential use of cannabis and its extracts in the treatment of acne has been a subject of ongoing debate. A study on the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on human sebaceous gland function found that CBD possesses potent antisebostatic (sebum-inhibiting) properties. CBD mixtures inhibit sebum secretion from human sebaceous glands, including the inhibition of sebocyte proliferation through activation of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) ion channel. Activation of TRPV4 can interfere with the pro-lipidogenic extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, leading to downregulation of the nuclear receptor interacting protein 1 (NRIP1), which affects glycolipid metabolism and thereby inhibits lipid production in sebocytes.
Dobrosi and colleagues reported that human SZ95 sebocytes express CB2 but not CB1. They also found that endocannabinoids are present in these sebocytes and that they upregulate lipid synthesis and induce apoptosis through selective CB2-coupled signaling pathways. In CB2-silenced SZ95 sebocytes, basal sebum production was found to be significantly inhibited. These findings suggest that both CB2 agonists and antagonists could be explored for the treatment of acne or other skin diseases characterized by sebaceous gland dysfunction.
Olah and colleagues found that several phytocannabinoids alter sebocyte viability at low doses and induce apoptosis at high doses. Cannabichromene (CBC) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) inhibit basal sebaceous lipid synthesis. Cannabidivarin (CBDV) has minimal inhibitory effects on lipid synthesis, while cannabigerol (CBG) promotes sebum production. CBC, CBDV, and THCV each significantly reduce arachidonic acid-induced acne-like sebum production. All phytocannabinoids in this study exhibited anti-inflammatory effects.
Targeting Skin Inflammation/Eczema
In a mouse model of allergic contact dermatitis, both topical and systemic application of THC reduced inflammatory responses. Furthermore, mice with knockout of both CB1 and CB2 receptors exhibited severe allergic contact dermatitis.
THC can activate G protein-coupled receptors CB1/2 to produce a range of biological effects, initially discovered in the brain and spleen. However, THC can also produce biological effects independent of CB1/2. Due to its potential immunosuppressive activity, THC and related cannabinoids may represent new therapeutic options for inflammatory skin diseases. A dinitrofluorobenzene-induced allergic contact dermatitis model was established in both CB1/2 knockout mice and wild-type mice, followed by topical application of THC. The results showed that in both wild-type and CB1/2 knockout mice, topical THC effectively reduced contact allergy-induced ear swelling and decreased bone marrow-derived immune cell infiltration. Topical THC reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by keratinocytes on one hand, and reduces bone marrow immune cell infiltration through CB1/2 receptor-independent pathways on the other, effectively alleviating contact allergic inflammation. These findings have certain guiding significance for therapeutic strategies for inflammatory skin diseases.
Several studies have described the ability of cannabinoids to exert antipruritic effects through activation of the TRPV1 ion channel. TRPV1 ion channels, which coexist with CB2 in keratinocytes, have been proposed as "ionotropic cannabinoid receptors." Endocannabinoids are typically metabolized by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). The aforementioned studies found that PEA enhances cannabinoid activity at TRPV1 receptors by inhibiting FAAH. Therefore, the synthetic FAAH inhibitors URB597 (KDS-4103) and URB937, as well as PEA, have potential application value in the treatment of pruritus associated with atopic dermatitis.
Wound Healing
Studies have found that a large number of cells express CB2 receptors during the wound healing process. In a recent study using a mouse wound healing model, a CB2 agonist was found to reduce inflammation and fibrosis. Furthermore, the rate of re-epithelialization was accelerated. This suggests that CB2 agonists may limit scar formation and promote faster wound healing.
In addition, cannabinoids also show potential applications in psoriasis, skin cancer, systemic sclerosis, and other conditions. However, it is worth noting that although the potential applications of cannabinoid therapy in dermatology are exciting, the use of cannabinoids is not without risks. The mechanisms of cannabinoids in the treatment of skin diseases are complex. Cannabinoids have different affinities for various cannabinoid receptors. The specificity of these compounds may not be entirely limited to cannabinoid receptors. At different dosages, they may act through other receptors or exert receptor-independent effects. Therefore, their biological outcomes cannot currently be reliably predicted.
Based on current research, cannabinoids may have certain application value in skin inflammation, pruritus (itching), acne, wound healing, and other areas. However, the available data on efficacy and safety are almost entirely limited to preliminary studies in rodents. Furthermore, current topical cannabinoid products are often formulated without standardization and are subject to inadequate regulation, particularly as some advertisements frequently make unsubstantiated claims. This issue highlights the need for further research and regulatory oversight. Future applications of cannabinoids will still require rigorous, in-depth investigation, and their safety and efficacy need to be further established.
Why do cannabinoid skincare products on the market range in price from tens to over a thousand? The answer lies in the difference between "full-spectrum" and "isolate." The extraction of full-spectrum CBD relies on complex molecular distillation equipment, which preserves the terpenes and various beneficial cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, generating the "entourage effect" that maximizes skincare efficacy. Low-end equipment, on the other hand, can only produce isolated CBD. As we briefly explore the skincare potential of cannabinoids, we must acknowledge one prerequisite: advanced extraction machinery is the key to unlocking this potential.
Find the Key
[ Click Here to View: Full-Spectrum CBD Extraction Equipment Models & Specifications ]
