Treating Acne

Acne is a skin condition that affects people of all ages, and successes in using CBD for reducing acne have created a great deal of interest in CBD products.


Acne is most commonly caused by a build-up of a waxy oil called sebum which is secreted by the pores of the skin. Sebum itself is not harmful – it is produced by the body to protect the skin from bacteria as well as environmental irritants. However, when an excessive amount of sebum is produced, it may clog pores, in addition to mixing with dirt, pollutants, and dead skin cells to form blockages which become inflamed and infected.

This can also have the effect of trapping small hair follicles within pores, leading to painful ingrown hairs. Very often, this can be worsened as individuals touch or attempt to clean acne spots, which only serves to spread the infection to neighboring skin pores.
The symptoms of acne are uncomfortable and distressing, and the severity of acne can also be increased by other factors such as diet, genetics, certain medicines, and stress hormones.

For many people, even the application of specialist medications or drugs does not fully alleviate acne symptoms. However, in a 2014 study (and several other studies and reviews based on this one), researchers found that treating problem acne with CBD is remarkably effective when CBD is applied as a preventive measure to alleviate acne symptoms.
The study showed that CBD works on several levels to do this: it inhibits the production of excess sebum in the body, while also exerting a powerful anti-inflammatory effect on the tissue around the pores of the skin. In addition, CBD also suppressed the body’s production of cytokines – the substances produced by the immune system which trigger inflammation, and which can rapidly multiply out of control.

(This study can be viewed at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151231 /)

In addition to these tremendous benefits, there was an additional aspect to the study. CBD was also shown to possess potent antibacterial and antifungal properties, which means that it neutralizes the bacteria which can cause infection in the pores of the skin.

So, how can you use CBD to treat problem acne? The good news is that CBD products can either be taken orally, as well as applied topically to the skin, and both methods have been shown to be measurably effective in the reduction of severe acne. CBD for reducing acne is a safe, natural option for those seeking options that do not involve pharmaceuticals.