CBD Lotion Tied To Reduced Skin Damage From UV Rays, New Study Finds

Applying CBD-infused lotion to the skin appears to be tied to a lower risk of damage from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, a first-of-its-kind study has found.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology this month, sought to investigate whether the known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of cannabidiol could mitigate the skin aging and cancer risks linked to sun exposure, specifically as it concerns ultraviolet-A radiation.

Researchers at George Washington University, Northwestern University, the University of Miami and the Center for Clinical and Cosmetic Research said that, because UV rays contribute to photoaging and photocarcinogenesis by “generating inflammation and oxidative damage,” they wanted to put CBD to the test.

Twenty healthy volunteers aged 23-64 participated in the experiment. After getting baseline data, they were given either a CBD-infused cream or a placebo, applied it to a small portion of their buttocks twice per day for two weeks and then received a minimal targeted irradiation with UVA. After 24 hours, biopsies were taken and analyzed for indicators of skin damage such as epidermal hyperplasia.

“This trial is the first to identify UV-protective capacity of CBD-containing topicals in humans.”

The study found 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.

It should be stressed that the placebo was not a conventional sunscreen and the point of the study wasn’t to suggest people should opt for CBD lotion over sunscreen. However, the findings signal that CBD may be another tool in the toolbox for sun protection.

“This work highlights the protective potential of CBD against UVA-induced DNA and mtDNA damage,” the study authors said. “We demonstrated nCBD-treated samples had less profound UV-related epidermal hyperplasia, a reduction in UVA-associated increase in premutagenic marker OGG1, and a reduction of two major UVA-induced mtDNA deletions associated with skin photoaging.”

“To the best of these authors’ knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the efficacy of topical CBD in decreasing UVA premutagenic and photoaging markers in humans,” they said. “Identifying novel compounds to effectively counteract UVA-mediated oxidative stress, cutaneous damage, and photoimmunosuppression, is crucial.”

“nCBD’s reduction of two deletions proposed as biomarkers for UV exposure, photoaging, and cancer risk is extremely promising.”

Limitations of the study include the relatively small sample size. The authors also noted that only people with fair skin complexions participated, so future research is needed to determine whether CBD may have similar effects on people with darker skin tones.

While this marks the first study to look at the relationship between cannabis and UVA risk, one other recent case study found that the non-intoxicating cannabinoid also appears to be a “viable alternative” treatment option for dogs suffering from a common skin disease—especially if they experience adverse side effects from conventional steroid therapies.

Meanwhile, another new study on the possible therapeutic value of lesser-known compounds in cannabis says that a number of minor cannabinoids may have anticancer effects on blood cancer that warrant further study.

In May, industry-backed research into the potential anti-anxiety effects of cannabidiol separately found that an oral CBD solution effectively treated mild to moderate anxiety, as well as associated depression and poor sleep quality, with no serious adverse events observed.

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Photo courtesy of Kimzy Nanney.