This report from Marijuana Moment, published on 13 February 2024

CBD is set to play an increasing role in cosmetic and beauty products such as skin and hair care as research highlights the cannabis compound’s anti-aging and antioxidant effects. It’s also been found to accelerate the healing of wounds.

New research published in the journal Pharmaceuticals suggests that CBD could be a useful addition to certain skin products given its anti-aging and antioxidant properties. There is also evidence that it may speed the healing of wounds, opening the way for the cosmetics industry to bring healing and therapeutic benefits into their product ranges.

“Overall, we suggest that CBD exhibits many potential characteristics that can be used to develop topical cosmeceutical products, such as sun protection products, hair care products, or wound healing products,” the study says, noting that low concentrations of the cannabinoid were also not toxic to cells during short-term treatment.

Authors of the new study—from Prince of Songkla University and the National Science and Technology Development Agency, in Thailand—wrote that CBD appears to influence a range of skin processes, making it “an appealing natural ingredient for the development of cosmeceuticals.”

The researchers said the study aimed to investigate the safety and “potential bioactivities” of CBD by studying anti-aging and wound healing activities at the cellular level. The three-person team looked at CBD’s effects on two different types of cells—fibroblasts and keratinocytes—and found that low concentrations “did not induce cytotoxcicity, but these concentrations significantly enhanced the growth of keratinocytes and fibroblasts.”

“Our results indicate that CBD at low concentrations is safe to be used on the skin and promotes the growth of both keratinocytes and fibroblasts.”

“These results support our findings that CBD might have the promising potential to induce cell proliferation and promote some cell activities in the long term,” the paper says. “Accordingly, we suggest that CBD at concentrations of 0.625–2.5 µg/mL is safe to use for skin applications.”

The study looked at CBD exposure over a period of 24 hours, though authors said future studies should also examine longer applications, such as 48 hours and 72 hours, to better determine any delayed effects.

Researchers noted that the antioxidant effects of CBD appeared to counteract oxidative stress at the cellular level, which otherwise damages cell components and disrupts their function.

As for wound healing, the study’s findings suggest “that CBD influences the expression of key genes involved in all phases of the wound healing process, supporting its potential as a therapeutic agent for skin repair and anti-aging applications.

“CBD showed promising antioxidant activity and anti-aging activity.”

Going forward, wrote the three-author team, future studies should employ 3-D skin models, as well as human skin, “to better understand skin processes after CBD application and to confirm the safety and activities of CBD over a longer period of time.” They noted that their study employed a single-layer model of cells, “which may not reflect the complexity of the actual skin layer.”

They also emphasized the need to better study possible risks. “Ensuring the safety of CBD is a top priority before incorporating it into cosmetic products,” the team said. “We recommend conducting more experiments in further studies, such as genotoxicity tests, because CBD can activate mediators…which are necessary for angiogenesis and can potentially influence cancer growth.”

Another issue might be the degradation of CBD, the study notes, which can happen under exposure to light, extreme temperatures and high- and low-pH environments.

“To enhance the stability of CBD and reduce its degradation in cosmetic products, it should be protected from light and oxygen, stored at low temperatures, and formulated at a neutral pH,” it says.

The new study adds to a body of research suggesting that CBD might be an effective treatment for certain skin conditions.

For example, a study published last autumn by university researchers in India and Thailand found that cannabis oil containing CBD may help promote the healing of skin wounds, writing that it offers “promising benefits” despite a need to better optimize product formulations.

That study looked specifically at how cannabis oil can reduce so-called “reactive oxygen species” (ROS) during the healing of wounds. Those chemicals “play a crucial role in would development by causing cell and tissue damage,” it explained.

“Increased ROS levels can hinder wound healing by exacerbating inflammation and cellular damage,” said the paper, published in the journal Pharmaceutics. “CBD’s antioxidant properties mitigate these effects, fostering a more conducive environment for tissue regeneration.”

Another paper, published last July in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, found that applying CBD-infused lotion to the skin appeared to be tied to a lower risk of damage from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Researchers at George Washington University, Northwestern University, the University of Miami and the Center for Clinical and Cosmetic Research wrote that 21 percent of those who used the CBD cream had less damage than the control group that received a placebo. Another 47 percent had comparable damage, and 11 percent showed better results after taking the placebo versus the cannabis lotion.

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