Cannabidiol is known as CBD in short. It is a cannabis extract that comes in different forms from lotions, topicals, and slaves. If you have a skin infection or suffering from a skin condition, you can apply CBD oil directly to your skin instead of digesting it. It also helps in muscle pain and inflammation. Cannabinoid topicals are used on the skin surface for such ailments. There are different types of topicals.
Types of CBD Topicals?
- CBD Salves
The biggest difference between different topicals is usually the water content they contain. If you add CBD extracts to oil carriers and emulsifiers like beeswax, you will make a CBD salve. The salves have no water content and are almost pure.
- CBD Lotion
CBD lotion consists of a suitable emulsifier, a mix of oil, water, and CBD extract. The water to oil ratio is usually 2:7. The oil is highly concentrated and this characterizes the consistency in the thickness of the CBD lotion compared to CBD creams.
- CBD Cream
They are made the same way lotions are made. You add the CBD extract to a mix of emulsifier, water, and oil. The ratio between water and oil is 1:1 in this case. The CBD cream is thinner compared to the CBD lotion.
How Do CBD Topicals Work?
One of the reasons why CBD topicals are popular is that it alleviates muscle soreness and skin conditions. This is because it penetrates the sub-dermal and dermal skin layers to reach the furthest point in the skin layers, not just the skin surface. So how do they work?
The topicals works after the endocannabinoid system is activated. This system is responsible for both pain and pleasure sensations. The activation happens when the cell receptors in the skin, muscle tissue, and nerves are bound. This helps reduce or completely alleviate the inflammation and pain.
Research shows that phytocannabinoids like cannabinoid topicals interact with enzymatic factors and receptors on the skin to help modulate inflammation and pain. The skin is very thick. However, when you apply any CBD topicals like cream, the cream soaks in the skin but does not mix with blood. It only reacts with CB1 receptors.
If the cream has THC and other receptors of the same family like TRPV, then the CBD can regulate the pain and inflammation responses.
What are the Benefits?
Cannabinoid topicals have many health-related benefits like helping with skin conditions that cause pain and inflammation. Although a lot of research is needed on the subject, there have been a lot of positive results.
In the skin care and cosmetic industry, many companies have started using CBD products. The products use the antioxidant and hydrating properties of CBD to effectively slow down aging and keep the skin healthy and moist at all times. Companies like Hemp Fusion use CBD properties on their wide array of topicals and cosmetics.
The CBD topical space is important to explore if you suffer from skin dryness, pain, redness, eczema, inflammation, and all other skin-related problems. Seek medical advice so you can get the proper topical prescribed for you.