Have you heard of the term “shower thoughts” before? Originated from Reddit, “shower thoughts” described a random thought that you may have had in the shower, or while driving, or doing some other relatively mindless activity where your brain goes on autopilot. Our shower thought of the week, unsurprisingly, revolves around cannabis—more specifically, its connection to your skin. Let’s see what research says about cannabis and your skin health.
Nine Ways Smoking Affects Your Skin
We have solid evidence by now that cigarette consumption, as well as nicotine, takes a toll on your skin health. Generally speaking, smoking is bad for your skin in more ways than one. Very Well Mind lists nine ways that smoking damages your skin from the inside out, resulting in a dull and overly aged appearance. Smoking cigarettes may lead to:
- Premature Aging of Facial Skin
- Sagging Skin
- Psoriasis
- Wound Healing
- Acne Inversa
- Vasculitis
- Telangiectasia
- Skin Staining/Color Changes
Your Skin Is a Vital Organ
Since most cannabis products lack nicotine and tobacco, we’re already starting off on a better, less-harmful foot when it comes to your skin. Did you know that skin is the body’s largest organ? We know that cannabis directly affects the brain, the lungs, and the heart…so why wouldn’t it have an impact on the skin as well? But first, let’s talk about the functions of the skin and why it’s so important to your overall health:
- Provides a protective barrier against mechanical, thermal, and physical injury and hazardous substances
- Prevents loss of moisture
- Reduces harmful effects of UV radiation
- Acts as a sensory organ (touch, detects temperature)
- Helps regulate temperature
- Detects infections
- Produces Vitamin D
Topical vs. Oral Cannabis for Your Skin
There’s a distinct difference in the way you consume cannabis and how it affects your skin health. When it comes to the oral consumption of cannabis (ie: smoking), there isn’t enough scientific evidence to say how it impacts your skin. That counts for good ways and bad. Researchers simply do not know (yet) if smoking cannabis causes or benefits acne. So far, the only research that’s been conducted on skin relates to topical cannabis.
We know that tobacco-based products can lead to long-term skin damage, such as wrinkles, yellow coloration, and decreased collagen production. The same cannot be said of cannabis at this time. On the plus side, there is a fair amount of research to support topical cannabis as being helpful for your skin health.
How Can Topical Cannabis Enhance Your Skin Health?
There are both CBD and THC-infused skincare products currently on the market. In fact, it’s a booming industry at this point. Cannabis beauty products are on the rise with retailers such as Sephora, Target, and Etsy. Target recently added hemp-infused skincare products to its collection, while Sephora sells the brand Lord Jones, which specializes in CBD balms, gummies, and oils.
Even though this research is relatively new and much still has to be explored, it’s widely acknowledged that topical cannabis has benefits for various skin conditions including acne, psoriasis, and eczema. There’s enough evidence to believe that cannabis and acne go hand-in-hand in positive ways when applied topically.
Find the Right Product For You
Now, it’s up to you to find the right topical cannabis product for your skin. Trust when we say there around hundreds of products on the market, You can find bath soaks, lip balms, skin balms, multi-purpose oils, lotions, body butters, and the list goes on. The beauty and skincare industries are obsessed with cannabis/hemp/CBD at the moment.
