Many CBD cream users swear by their favourite products. You might be one of them. However, curiosity got the better of you, so now you’re on this page.
How exactly does CBD cream work its magic? On this page, we’ll get into how CBD cream and other CBD topicals (like lotion, ointment, salve, etc.) do their thing.
Wait – What’s CBD Cream?
If you popped in here via Google Search, you might not know what CBD cream is. Stated simply, CBD cream is a semisolid/thick liquid cosmetic that’s infused with CBD. CBD stands for cannabidiol, one of the most abundant cannabinoids in cannabis and hemp.
Scientists have known about this compound since 1940. Until recently, however, legal barriers have made it challenging to study. Despite a thin body of research, several papers have drawn correlations between CBD and various positive effects.
Unlike THC, CBD is not a psychoactive compound – that is, it doesn’t get you high. Instead, it appears to promote calm, reduce inflammation, and decrease discomfort. To that point, papers have shown that CBD topicals appear to improve conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis.
But how? To understand, we must first understand how CBD influences your body’s endocannabinoid system.
Your Skin and the Endocannabinoid System
Endocann-what? Before your brain shuts down, don’t worry – virtually no high school anatomy class has ever covered this mysterious biochemical signalling system.
After all, researchers only uncovered the endocannabinoid system in 1992. Since then, they’ve been eagerly working to reveal its complexities. And what they’ve found is fascinating. Almost every living creature on this Earth (except for insects) has an endocannabinoid system. Its receptors are situated throughout the body – from your brain to your skin.
Its function? To maintain homeostasis (or balance) in the body. To do so, your body produces its own cannabinoids called endocannabinoids. When an event disrupts the balance in your body, your endocannabinoid system gets to work.
Here’s an example: Let’s say you cut your hand. In response, your immune system initiates an inflammatory response. However, once your immune cells take care of any foreign bacteria, your endocannabinoid system kicks into action. The release of endocannabinoids like 2-AG reduces local inflammation, returning your skin to a normal state.
How Does CBD Cream Work?
When you rub CBD cream on your skin, it passes through your outer layer of skin into the dermis. Here, CBD wanders until it finds CB1 or CB2 receptors to interact with. When it does, it changes the function of the endocannabinoid system to produce the desired effects.
For example, when CBD interacts with CB2 receptors, it acts to block the release of FAAH – an enzyme that breaks down anandamide. Anandamide is an anti-inflammatory endocannabinoid. By applying CBD cream to inflamed skin, anandamide levels increase, reducing your inflammation faster.
However, be careful when buying CBD lotion and other CBD topicals. Regrettably, some CBD products mislead consumers on CBD content. To ensure you’re getting a CBD salve rich in cannabidiol, always look at the lab report.
What Conditions Can CBD Cream Treat?
CBD, through interactions with the endocannabinoid system, appears to be effective in dealing with discomfort and inflammation. Meanwhile, the list of skin & muscle conditions with these two symptoms is quite long.
In these cases, CBD creams, ointment, salve, and lotion may be able to provide relief. For a full list of conditions, refer to WebMD and other similar sites.
How Can I Use CBD Cream?
Ready to try out CBD skin cream? Here’s how to use it:
- Wash the area thoroughly with soap & water. By doing so, you’ll remove dirt, oil buildup, and dead skin cells that can block CBD absorption.
- Apply CBD cream to skin liberally.
- Leave the affected area exposed for several minutes. This way, you can ensure optimal absorption of active ingredients.
- Be patient. Typically, it can take an hour or two to feel the effects of a CBD salve. In some cases, repeated applications may be necessary to get desired results.
Conclusion
So far, many users report excellent experiences with CBD cream products. However, the science behind CBD is still catching up. Given what we know so far, though, we’re confident researchers will eventually prove what most of us already know.