Before we go into the various skin conditions CBD may help alleviate, let’s dive into a bit of science so you understand more about this amazing compound and why it may have such a big impact on the skin.

CBD stands for cannabidiol and is one of the major active cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Existing naturally within the body is a complex neurotransmitter network called the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that plays a critical part in the operations of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Cannabis plant cannabinoids, called phytocannabinoids, can trigger the same receptors as the body’s own natural endocannabinoids.

Here is where it gets interesting in regard to the skin. The ECS, which was only just discovered in the 1980s, is present in the skin itself. According to a study published in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, the main physiological function of the cutaneous ECS is to “control the proper and well-balanced proliferation, differentiation and survival” of skin cells, as well as the skin’s immunity.

CBD has been receiving lots of headlines for its potential positive effects on everything from anxiety to depression to chronic pain to insomnia. However, one area where CBD has numerous potential benefits on our body’s biggest organ–the skin.

It turns out that many of the potential benefits of CBD, its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, for example, are exactly what makes it potentially very good for the skin. From conditions ranging from psoriasis and eczema and acne to anti-aging, the wide-ranging uses of CBD for the skin are just beginning to come to light.