Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition that can cause redness and itchiness. While it’s most common in children, it can pop up at any age. It’s not curable, but it’s treatable. Anyone who’s dealt with the symptoms knows how frustrating it can be to deal with the large red, scaly, itchy patches of skin.
One of the best ways to both prevent outbreaks and treat active ones is to moisturize the skin. But what about another layer of relief? CBD is touted on the market for a lot of conditions, including skin issues. But does it work for eczema?
Benefits of CBD for the Skin
CBD is shorthand for cannabidiol, an extract of the cannabis or hemp plant. It is related to the more famous THC, but does not have the same psychoactive properties. What it does have is a wide range of potential health benefits. While the research is not yet conclusive (there are a lot of studies currently in the works), CBD has been shown through both strong anecdotal evidence and preliminary studies to:
- Relieve pain and inflammation
- Manage the symptoms of anxiety
- Promote sleep for people with anxiety
- Have neuroprotective properties
- Have cardioprotective properties
The effects of CBD on pain and inflammation are two of the benefits with the strongest evidence.
The Endocannabinoid System
All mammals have what is called an endocannabinoid system. This series of receptors and neurotransmitters in the body help the body to regulate a variety of systemic processes and promote homeostasis. The body makes its own cannabinoids that interact with C1 receptors in the central nervous system, as well as C2 receptors in the peripheral nerves.
CBD also interacts with these receptors, and can offer potent anti-inflammatory, anti-itch, and pain relieving properties when applied to the skin. It has also shown antimicrobial effects.
Will CBD Cream Work for Me?
That’s one of the questions that dermatological studies are scrambling to answer. The fact is, we just don’t have complete research at this time. However, the science behind the potential benefit is sound, and preliminary studies show promise.
You’ll also find thousands of reviews online from people who have found relief using CBD cream for eczema. This alone may make giving it a try worthwhile.
Another important factor is the good safety profile of CBD. It can be ingested without only a few mild potential side effects, and is even safer for use on the skin. As with any kind of skin application, do a test patch of skin first to make sure that there’s no reaction.
Even the National Eczema Association feels that there’s little to lose in trying CBD for eczema.
How to Find a Safe and Effective CBD Cream for Eczema
The only real issue with trying CBD cream for eczema is the potential for wasting money on junk products. Because the CBD marketplace is unregulated by the FDA, there are oodles of subpar or fake CBD creams being sold. You have to be smart about what you’re buying, or you could be wasting your money on a product that contains little to no CBD in the formulation.
Research Your Brand
Before you decide what product to buy, make sure that you find a company that has a good reputation in the CBD industry. This can be through studying third party review sites, or trusted publications. When you find a few likely candidates, check out their websites.
Look for more information, like awards or certifications. Are they organic? Take a look at their ingredient list. Typically the fewer ingredients the better. You want something with hemp extract and other skin-nourishing ingredients like aloe, or oils like olive oil, coconut, or hemp seed oil.
Look for the COA
COA stands for Certificate of Analysis, and there should be one for any CBD product you buy. This document will share information on the amount of CBD, as well as any other beneficial hemp extracts like terpenes, essential oils, or other cannabinoids. It will also document that the product is free from any toxins, heavy metals, or contaminants.
These results should be posted on the website where it’s easy to find. Ideally it should be right on the product page for easy access. Make sure that the results are provided by a third party independent lab. It’s not enough to say “lab tested”. If testing is done by an in-house lab, the results can be skewed, biased, or outright lies.
Only batch testing of the product at an independent lab should be accepted. Then you’ll know not only that the CBD cream contains the advertised amount of CBD, but that the other ingredients are correctly listed as well.
Study the Reviews
Next, check the reviews. See if any of the reviewers are using the CBD cream for eczema, and if so what results they noticed. The more reviews the better. You can even cross reference the company, CBD cream, and eczema to see if any third party reviewers have mentioned the efficacy of that brand.
Give CBD Cream a Try
In the end, there’s no real reason not to give CBD cream a try. They can be expensive, but there’s no reason to keep buying unless you see real results on your own eczema outbreaks. Better still, most reputable names in the business offer a full satisfaction money back guarantee on their products.
Simply try one brand. If it works, wonderful! Many companies offer a loyalty discount or a subscription discount so you don’t have to pay full price if you’re a repeat buyer. If your first choice doesn’t really live up to your standards, simply return it for a refund and try your second and third place choice.
It’s very likely that the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial effects of CBD will make a difference to your irritated skin. Because everybody’s reaction to any cream or lotion is different, we can’t promise it will work. However, we can say that with the promise of the research, the comparative safety of the product, and a money back guarantee, you literally have nothing to lose when you try it.
