Cannabidiol: an ally for our skin

Our skin is a protective barrier. It protects us from environmental insults that can lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), substances that cause oxidative stress. The latter induces cellular damage and can cause chronic inflammation if not controlled and is also implicated in skin disorders and skin aging. Keratinocytes are the main cells of the skin and are particularly sensitive to environmental stresses. Inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, result from complex events that include dysregulation and abnormal expressions of inflammatory mediators in keratinocytes, such as overexpression of interleukin 8 and metalloproteinases that contribute to the degradation of the extracellular matrix.

To help the skin, to combat inflammatory processes and free radicals, comes a plant-based substance, cannabidiol.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a substance belonging to the phytocannabinoid family and is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. Phytocannabinoids have been shown to modulate inflammatory responses by regulating various inflammatory signaling pathways and are therefore useful for various skin conditions.

For example, one study showed that CBD-based preparations were able to inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators involved in wound healing and inflammatory processes that occur in the skin. Another study, using cellular models of allergic contact dermatitis, showed that CBD showed strong anti-inflammatory action against these cells. CBD could potentially also play a role in modulating the response to itch, although more defined studies are still needed.

CBD plays a very important role in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. A study conducted on subjects affected by this pathology who were administered skin preparations based on CBD, showed that in 67% of the subjects a decrease in itching was observed and 50% of the participants perceived an improvement in their eczema of over 60%. This observational study has shed light on the potential clinical utility of topical CBD in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. CBD has also been reported to show a potent activity against a variety of Gram-positive strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis. This could be potentially useful for the treatment of secondary infections associated with atopic dermatitis, infections that occur due to itching and continuous scratching, situations that create the appearance of micro wounds on the skin and make the skin susceptible to colonization by pathogenic bacteria.

The action of CBD on the skin is particularly pronounced because, at the level of our skin, there are many receptors belonging to the endocannabinoid system. This system is an evolutionarily conserved network of molecular signaling that plays a role in bodily homeostasis. The endocannabinoid system is made up of signaling molecules (endocannabinoids such as CBD), specific receptors and enzymes that synthesize and break down endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid transporters. In the skin, cannabinoid receptors are found not only at the level of keratinocytes but also at the level of other cellular components such as fibroblasts, sebaceous glands, hair follicles and melanocytes.

In conclusion, the therapeutic potential of CBD for the topical treatment of skin conditions is very promising, especially in cases of skin inflammation, itching or skin superinfections.

References

• Sangiovanni E, Fumagalli M, Pacchetti B, Piazza S, Magnavacca A, Khalilpour S, Melzi G, Martinelli G, Dell'Agli M. Cannabis sativa L. extract and cannabidiol inhibit in vitro mediators of skin inflammation and wound injury. Phytother Res. 2019 Aug;33(8):2083-2093.
• Baswan SM, Klosner AE, Glynn K, Rajgopal A, Malik K, Yim S, Stern N. Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Skin Health and Disorders. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020 Dec 8;13:927-942.
• Maghfour J, Rietcheck HR, Rundle CW, Runion TM, Jafri ZA, Dercon S, Lio P, Fernandez J, Fujita M, Dellavalle RP, Yardley H. An Observational Study of the Application of a Topical Cannabinoid Gel on Sensitive Dry Skin. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020 Dec 1;19(12):1204-1208.