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MAY 13, 2020

Premature aging is caused by a variety of factors and studies show CBD may help some of these.

Aging is unavoidable. And while there is no way to literally stop aging in its tracks, there are methods with which one can age in line with modern beauty standards. Anti-aging skin creams, supplements, dermatological treatments and surgeries are all strategies that are commonly used to reduce the physical effects of aging.  And as CBD has become more and more popular in the beauty industry, consumers are beginning to look at this cannabinoid for possibilities in the anti-aging realm. Can really CBD turn the clock around?

How CBD Oil May Replenish the Skin

When we think of anti-aging we think of our skin first, since it’s the most obvious signifier of the effects of growing old. Among the many anti-aging strategies available on the market, products that protect against ultra violet rays and those that are rich with antioxidants are proven to be effective.

According to this study published in Dermatoendocrinol (2012), chronic photodamage is the leading cause of wrinkles and pigmentary changes to the skin. To avoid photodamage, the common advice is to protect the skin from ultra violet (UV) rays. UV exposure causes production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Excessive amounts of ROS can damage the skin by exerting oxidative stress and altering RNA, lipids, and proteins. Staying out of the sun and wearing sunscreen are the first lines of defense. And as researchers noted, treating the skin with antioxidants and increasing collagen production also helps.

This is where CBD oil comes in. This study in The Analyst (2019), showed that CBD exhibits antioxidant activity. How is this good for your skin? Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, repair the skin’s membrane, and protect against UV-generated ROS. And according to this study in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (2015), CBD may also have the ability to increase collagen production.

What Studies Say About CBD Affects on the Body

Photodamage isn’t the only way in which aging can appear on the skin and body. Premature aging is also caused by other factors, including excessive stress and loss of sleep.

What we know about CBD is that, according to multiple animal studies, it may work with different kinds of receptors in the body that regulate the brain’s fear and anxiety response. Two of these include the 5-HT1A receptor, and the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 receptor (TRPV1).

But what effect does stress have on the body? Essentially, according to this research in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (2012), inflammation from stress can lead to “insomnia, late-life depression, anxiety, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.” It can also cause diabetes, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

Science is showing that CBD can help reduce anxiety and stress, and act as an anti-inflammatory. While the effects of stress and inflammation may not always be readily apparent in one’s appearance, these conditions can have a devastating effect on bodily function.

Maintaining Proper Sleep for a Youthful Glow?

Getting a good night’s rest is the first line of defense against aging. Lack of proper sleep not only takes a toll on the body internally, but it also shows on the skin. Between 50 and 70 million Americans suffer from insomnia, caused by a multitude of factors, including chronic pain and stress.

CBD may improve sleep by decreasing the frequency of nocturnal awakenings. Meaning, it can help you get to sleep and stay asleep. But, consideration of dosage is important. A study in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (1981), discovered that a strain high in CBD and low in THC is the right balance for getting some much needed shut-eye. A strain that is low in CBD might have the opposite effect, and exacerbate rather than stop the anti aging effects.

Terpenes may also contribute to the process of maintaining proper sleep, specifically myrcene and terpinolene. These aromatic compounds are found in various strains of cannabis, and while they still need proper study, what we know about them so far is that they can help in the battle against insomnia.

Whole Plant Medicine for Anti-Aging

While taking CBD internally may certainly help promote a good night’s sleep, maybe even fight anxiety and lower inflammation, we can also see here that applying CBD topically may help prevent aging. Further, not only can CBD act as a natural antioxidant, it can also reduce irritation and inflammation of the skin when applied directly to the skin.

Interestingly, the whole Cannabis sativa plant and its seeds may have some benefit for skin appearance. CBD oil that utilizes hemp seed extract also contains essential fatty acids and high levels of vitamin E. Essentially, these compounds may help protect the skin and also make it more resilient to environmental stressors, like photo damage.

References

Ganceviciene, Ruta, et al. “Skin Anti-Aging Strategies.” Dermato-Endocrinology, Landes Bioscience, 1 July 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583892/.

Hacke, Ana Carolina Mendes, et al. “Probing the Antioxidant Activity of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol in Cannabis Sativa Extracts.” The Analyst, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 5 Aug. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31318364.

Kogan, Natalya M, et al. “Cannabidiol, a Major Non-Psychotropic Cannabis Constituent Enhances Fracture Healing and Stimulates Lysyl Hydroxylase Activity in Osteoblasts.” Journal of Bone and Mineral Research : the Official Journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25801536.

Carlini, E A, and J M Cunha. “Hypnotic and Antiepileptic Effects of Cannabidiol.” Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1981, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7028792.

Lavretsky, Helen, and Paul A Newhouse. “Stress, Inflammation, and Aging.” The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry : Official Journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3428505/.