CBD topicals for 2023

What’s trending in CBD topicals for 2023? Well, let’s take a look. CBD is hot and it shows no signs of slowing down. Although many more states are looking at legalizing recreational marijuana, there are those who prefer the therapeutic benefits without the high. The beauty of CBD topicals is that you apply them directly to an affected area; they don’t make it to the blood stream. No high, few side effects.

Of course, beauty and pain products top the list, as always. However, new research conducted around around CBD topicals for radiation or chemotherapy are making inroads.

CBD in a nutshell

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound found in cannabis plants. Hemp is a cannabis plant and the one we use for Lost Remedy products. The CBD oil from hemp can be used as an oil, tincture or edible. Or it’s combined with carrier and essential oils becoming a balm, salve, lotion or cream. As already noted, you apply a topical directly to an affected area. It doesn’t need to pass through the blood stream.

Benefits of CBD topicals graphicAs a result, it works more quickly on pain, skin conditions and other issues. The CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) we all have. It interacts with receptors located throughout your skin, getting to the heart of the matter much faster. In addition, the results can last longer when used for a localized condition such as pain, rash, wounds or nerve issues.

Ever since the 2018 U. S. Farm Bill was passed, CBD has lost its stigma as a drug and gained in popularity. The anecdotal tales are legion, but they are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That means CBD is not regulated. So,use caution when purchasing products that claim to be CBD. The FDA, however, is looking at ways to investigate the efficacy of CBD. As their research evolves, ways to regulate the products will be forthcoming.

CBD topicals and cancer treatment

Two aspects of cancer treatment, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, work to eliminate the cancer. But, they also tend to have difficult side effects for which there is little recourse.

CBD topicals and Radiation

Radiation treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic, “most often refers to external beam radiation therapy. During this type of radiation, the high-energy beams come from a machine outside of your body that aims the beams at a precise point on your body… . Radiation therapy damages cells by destroying the genetic material that controls how cells grow and divide. While both healthy and cancerous cells are damaged by radiation therapy, the goal of radiation therapy is to destroy as few normal, healthy cells as possible.”

Side effects of radiation can often include burning the skin. Beyond burning, a patient also deals with blistering, increased appearance of aging, dermatitis and sensitivity to sunlight. CBD topicals can help protect the skin by neutralizing those free radicals.

CBD is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It also has analgesic properties that relieve pain. Applied topically, it efficiently and effectively causes the ECS response that triggers repair. Although CBD on its own is a powerful anti-inflammatory, when combined with carrier and essential oils, its power multiplies, helping to target the area with pain-relieving penetration. Some of those essential oils are cooling agents that also help soothe the burn. Look for this combination of oils when you buy CBD burn cream, because it hydrates and helps soothe the skin, reducing burning.

CBD topicals and chemotherapy

Although more research has been conducted on radiation therapy, studies are cropping up around chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. In fact, the Mayo Clinic has a call for study participants as does the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Peripheral neuropathy, a common and serious side effect from chemotherapy, has few treatment options. 

There is research to suggest that CBD topicals may help ease neuropathic pain, and in its other forms may act as anticancer agents. Unlike the products currently used to relieve neuropathic pain, CBD topicals have few, if any, side effects. Recently, the U.S. National Library of Medicine looked at topical CBD for treating chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. As we see more such studies take place, 2023 could see more efficacy in using CBD topicals for some cancer treatments. In the meantime, anecdotal evidence and the absence of side effects make CBD topicals worth discussing with an oncologist whether to use CBD topicals as an adjunct in treatment.

CBD topicals for pain

Studies for using CBD topicals for pain are more abundant. As a 2020 study indicates, topical CBD may relieve pain from peripheral neuropathy. Other studies have been conducted to determine how CBD topicals may affect patients with difficult to treat or chronic pain, which can include arthritis, nerve pain, fibromyalgia and others. The common denominator in all these conditions is inflammation. CBD, a known anti-inflammatory, can help relieve pain by reducing inflammation. This is one of the main reasons people seek out CBD topicals: pain relief. Even joint and muscle pain brought on by overexertion can reap the anti-inflammatory rewards of CBD topicals. As the call for these products increase, I’m sure we’ll see more research and deeper understanding of what CBD can and can’t do in 2023.

CBD topicals for beauty

As you may or may not know, the beauty industry is not regulated and a lot of what we apply to our skin is replete with toxins and chemicals that do little good for us or the planet. Plus, the cosmetic and beauty industry in the United States is not regulated. So, what if you have a skin condition such as psoriasis, eczema or other inflammatory disorders?

Dr. Nima Gharavi is dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon at the Cedars-Sinai Cosmetic Dermatology Program. She says CBD may play a role in hydrating the skin and have anti-inflammatory effects, so using a product that contains CBD might help with treating dry skin or certain inflammatory skin disorders.

The fact that CBD lotions, creams and balms are free of chemicals and toxins makes them a natural choice to protect and hydrate skin. If you do have a skin condition, using CBD has few if any side effects to contend with. As 2023 continues and the demand for CBD products rise, watch for new studies and information about how CBD topicals may benefit your skin.

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