Study Shows CBD Skin Care Could Prevent Sun Damage, Reduce Cancer Risk

Skin cancer is quickly becoming one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States. The Skin Cancer Foundation indicates that nearly one in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer by the age of 70. Although the disease can be highly treatable when caught early, more than two people die of skin cancer every hour. Having five or more sunburns doubles your risk of developing the most significant form of skin cancer: melanoma.

While sunscreen continues to be your best defense, there may be a new player on the field that, when combined with sunscreen and other healthy habits, may protect against sun damage and skin cancer. That player is CBD derived from cannabis.

The Facts About CBD and Sun Protection

Even those who know little about marijuana have probably heard about the two most prominent chemical compounds of the plant, THC and CBD. THC and CBD are cannabinoids, chemical substances that bind to specific receptors in the brain. THC is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, responsible for giving people a “high” or sense of euphoria. CBD is also a cannabinoid. However, it does not produce psychoactive effects. Due to its reported therapeutic properties, CBD is a popular additive in everything from drinks to edibles, health and wellness products, makeup, and skincare, even in areas where cannabis remains illegal.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology suggests that CBD may help protect the skin against UVA-induced sun damage. This exciting prospect could have significant skincare and medical applications, including protection against sun damage, premature aging, and potentially the development of skin cancer.

The small study focused on a specific nano-encapsulated CBD skin cream. “Nano-encapsulated” means nanometer-sized capsules enclosed the CBD particles. Scientists placed these particles in a specialized delivery system for optimal absorption and coverage. Nineteen participants applied the specialized CBD or a placebo cream to their skin twice daily for 14 days. Their skin was then exposed to ultraviolet radiation up to three times the levels needed to burn or injure skin tissue. Researchers biopsied the skin of the participants and assessed the tissue for cellular and DNA damage associated with UVA ray exposure.

While both UVA and UVB rays can contribute to skin damage and the development of skin cancer, UVA rays have a longer wavelength. These ultraviolet rays are associated with premature skin aging and tanning. Shorter UVB rays are typically associated with burning and blistering.

The results? The individuals who applied the CBD cream had less skin redness, cellular damage, and DNA damage than those who applied the placebo cream. DNA damage in these skin cells causes them to mutate and rapidly grow, becoming skin cancer. The study suggests that CBD may help reduce skin damage caused by the sun’s UVA rays and protect it from premature aging, damage, and cancer.

Study Findings Help Support Other Sun Damage Research

The findings are significant because they help back up previous studies that also looked to explore the potential therapeutic benefits of CBD. While CBD medication to treat epilepsy is the only FDA-approved CBD therapeutic on the market today, some studies indicate that CBD may help ease the symptoms of chronic pain, Parkinson’s Disease, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.

Another recent study out of Australia, a country with one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, suggests that cannabis extract could be a powerful tool in the fight against melanoma. Melanoma is one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer because it is more likely to grow and spread quickly and tends to be more aggressive than other forms of skin cancer, like basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Although melanoma is the rarest form of skin cancer, it accounts for the vast majority of skin cancer deaths.

A study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology showed that CBD could potentially “turn off” the skin-cell growth switch associated with some forms of cancer. It appears that the cannabis extract interacts with receptors in specific melanoma cancer cells. While more research is needed, it is a promising development that could help provide supplementary therapy options for patients treating malignant melanoma. Unfortunately, limited current melanoma treatment options exist because melanoma has shown resistance to many traditional cancer treatments.

Surgical removal of the cancer and surrounding tissue or lymph nodes is still the best option for treating melanoma. Chemotherapy and radiation are rarely used to treat melanoma and may only be an option after the cancer spreads to other areas of the body. Immunotherapy and targeted therapy may help fight the disease but can be expensive. Targeted therapy also only works in cases where the BRAF gene mutation is present; that’s only the case in about half of melanoma cases, according to the American Cancer Society.

Should You Switch Up Your Skincare Routine and Include CBD?

So, should you add CBD products to your skincare routine? Not so fast. The newest study shows that CBD may help reduce sun damage using a nano-encapsulated CBD formula. These are shrunken, small CBD particles. CBD is a large, “hefty” chemical compound that cannot pass the outermost layer of the skin. For this study, the researchers had to break down the compound and shrink it to ensure it could be evenly distributed and absorbed by the skin. With little to no transparency in the beauty industry, there is no way for consumers to know if the CBD skincare products they use utilize nano-encapsulated CBD in their product formulations. It is nearly impossible to tell if your current product can deliver sun protection results.

Are topical products the only way to gain potential sun protection benefits from CBD? That’s a question for another study. One of the researchers behind the new CBD-sun protection study, Adam Friedman, MD, notes that he’s not sure if you can get the same benefits by smoking or consuming cannabis, but he hopes to move into the prescription testing space.

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