CBD cream reduces skin damage caused by UV rays

A recent study revealed that the application to the skin of a CBD cream reduces the risk of damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, this pioneering research explores the potential of cannabidiol (CBD) to reduce skin aging and the risks of cancer associated with exposure to the sun, particularly ultraviolet A (UVA) rays.

Study objectives and methodology

Researchers from’George Washington University, the’Northwestern University, the’Miami University and Center for Clinical and Cosmetic Research sought to verify whether the properties CBD's well-documented anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties could counteract the harmful effects of UV rays.

These rays are known to contribute to photoaging and photocarcinogenesis by generating inflammation and oxidative damage.

In this study, twenty healthy volunteers aged between 23 and 64 were selected. Initially, baseline data was collected, then participants were divided into two groups. One group applied a CBD-infused cream to a small area of their buttocks twice a day for two weeks, while the other group used a placebo.

After this period, participants received minimal targeted UVA irradiation. Skin biopsies taken 24 hours later were analyzed for indicators of skin damage, such as epidermal hyperplasia.

Main results

The results from this essay are significant, as this is the first time that the UV protection capacity of topical products containing CBD has been identified in humans. The results of the study are as follows:

• 21 % of participants who used CBD cream showed less damage than the control group who received placebo
• 47 % showed comparable levels of damage
• 11 % of participants had better results after using the placebo rather than the CBD lotion

It's important to note that the placebo used in this study was not conventional sunscreen. The study was not intended to suggest that people should replace their sunscreen with CBD lotion. Rather, the results indicate that CBD could be an additional tool for sun protection.

«This work highlights the protective potential of CBD against DNA damage and mtDNA induced by UVA», note the study authors. «We demonstrated that nCBD-treated samples exhibited shallower UV-related epidermal hyperplasia, a reduction in the UVA-associated increase in the premutagen marker OGG1, and a reduction in two major UVA-induced mtDNA deletions associated with photoaging of the skin.»

Implications and future research

The study highlights CBD's potential for reducing UVA-induced skin damage.

«To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of the Topical CBD in the reduction of UVA-induced premutagenic and photoaging markers in humans,» said the researchers. «It is essential to identify new compounds to effectively counteract UVA-induced oxidative stress, skin damage and photoimmunosuppression.»

The researchers also highlighted the reduction in two deletions proposed as biomarkers of UV exposure, photoaging and cancer risk, describing these results as «extremely promising».»

However, the limitations of the study must be acknowledged. The sample size was relatively small and all participants were fair-skinned. Further research is needed to determine whether CBD has similar protective effects on darker-skinned people.