Today, over 8 million Americans are living with psoriasis — a chronic autoimmune condition involving an overactive immune system that causes skin cells to grow too fast, leading to a buildup of red, scaly, itchy, and painful skin cell patches.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for psoriasis.
But do you know that many manufacturers now add CBD to their creams and lotion as the compound may benefit people with psoriasis?
Now here’s the million-dollar question — what is the best CBD oil for people living with psoriasis?
In this article, we examine how CBD has the potential to help ease the skin of people that have psoriasis. We also help you understand how CBD contributes to the overall health and living conditions of psoriasis patients. Finally, you’ll also discover insight into the best types of CBD oil for psoriasis.
Key Takeaways
- CBD is not a cure for psoriasis.
- While CBD will not cure psoriasis, it can help manage its symptoms — especially pain and inflammation.
- Broad spectrum CBD oil may offer more benefits in the management of psoriasis symptoms.
What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is the medical term for a chronic autoimmune skin condition that makes the skin cells grow too fast, causing thick, scaly, itchy, and often patches on the skin’s surface. These patches are called plaques and may crack and bleed.
Some of the more common areas affected by psoriasis are the scalp, elbows, knees, face, lower back, and nails. However, it can also occur anywhere on the body.
There are several types of psoriasis, including plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, and erythrodermic psoriasis. Each type presents differently, but all can cause significant discomfort and affect a person’s quality of life.
Sadly, there is still no cure for psoriasis as of today. However, healthcare professionals have discovered several effective treatments that can help manage the symptoms while improving the appearance of affected skin.
This is where CBD oil comes into play, as many now leverage it as a topical application for psoriasis.
In addition to skin symptoms, some people with psoriasis may also experience joint pain and swelling, which is known as psoriatic arthritis, and can lead to joint damage if left untreated.
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What Causes Psoriasis?
Experts have not identified a specific cause of psoriasis is not yet known, but they believe it happens as a result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
In addition, researchers have identified several genes that may be associated with an increased risk of developing psoriasis. However, they also believe that other factors, such as infections, stress, and specific medications, may trigger the condition in genetically predisposed people.
While the cause of psoriasis remains unknown, ongoing research continues to shed more insight into this complex condition and may one day lead to new and more effective treatments.
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Is CBD Good for Psoriasis?
We’d like to stay an absolute yes. But CBD affects people differently, and it may be impossible to say for sure if CBD will cause an improvement in every psoriasis patient. However, current research suggests that CBD may help reduce some symptoms associated with psoriasis.
Due to its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and immune-modulating effects, CBD may be a good addition to your psoriasis treatment. After all, the condition itself is caused by an auto-immune disorder.
However, while some people living with psoriasis report improvements in their symptoms after trying CBD treatments, you should note that everyone’s experience is different. Besides, the type, quality, and purity of CBD oil you use will also play a role in determining the results you get.
Either way, we recommend consulting your doctor first before trying CBD. Also, if you’re going to go on to include CBD oil in your treatment regimen, ensure you acquire your products from a reputable and well-established source that has relevant certifications on their CBD.
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How Does CBD Oil Help Psoriasis?
Here are some potential ways CBD oil can help you in managing psoriasis:
Reduced skin cell growth
According to a study, CBD may be able to reduce the buildup of skin cells by inhibiting keratinocyte proliferation, which describes the multiplication or reproduction of keratinocytes, thereby resulting in the expansion of a cell population. However, more research is necessary to produce more conclusive evidence in this regard.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Inflammation is one of the more prominent symptoms of psoriasis and causes severe pain and discomfort in patients. However, since experts have discovered that CBD has anti-inflammatory effects, it can help reduce skin inflammation, and people living with psoriasis feel more comfortable.
Pain reduction and management
Research has shown that CBD can be very effective in easing pain in the body. Since psoriasis is generally a painful condition, including CBD in your treatment may be a healthier alternative for dealing with the pain. This is particularly important for people who cannot take medically-prescribed pain relievers for one reason or the other.
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Best Types of CBD for Psoriasis
If you’re considering using CBD for treating psoriasis, you’ll typically have three options of CBD: full spectrum CBD, broad spectrum CBD, and CBD isolates.
Full Spectrum CBD
Full spectrum CBD contains all the natural compounds found in the cannabis plants — including THC. In other words, it contains natural essential oils, CBD, terpenes, flavonoids, fatty acids, and THC.
While the active compounds in full spectrum CBD will produce the entourage effect, which may make it a more effective treatment, it may also get you high since it contains THC. However, getting high from full spectrum CBD is unlikely (especially in small doses) since this CBD can only legally contain only 0.3% THC according to the 2018 Farmer’s Bill.
Broad Spectrum CBD
Broad spectrum CBD basically contains all the compounds that exist in its full spectrum counterpart with the exception of THC. While THC may still exist in trace amounts, broad spectrum CBD should not get you high.
As a result, most healthcare professionals may recommend broad spectrum CBD as the preferred alternative if you want to use CBD to manage your psoriasis.
CBD Isolates
In this case, the cannabidiol has been extracted from the remaining compounds. In other words, CBD isolates contain pure CBB with no extra cannabinoids or terpenes. However, depending on the manufacturer, CBD isolate may contain some other substances that they’ve intentionally added.
After deciding what time of CBD you want to use in your psoriasis treatment, you’ll also have the option of choosing which application method to use. Generally, CBD comes in various forms, including:
- Edibles, such as gummies and candies
- Capsules and softgels
- Oils and tinctures
- Topicals, such as creams, balms, and lotions
- Vaporizers
However, if you’re treating psoriasis, oils, and topicals may be your best options as they allow you to apply the CBD directly to the site of treatment.
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Best CBD Oil for Psoriasis: What to Know
There’s no right or wrong answer here. Instead, you need to focus on the quality of CBD oil you’re buying. After all, the results you get will significantly depend on the potency of the CBD oil you’re applying.
Here are some factors you should consider when shopping for CBD oil for psoriasis:
- Is the CBD oil derived from organic hemp, and is it non-GMO (non-genetically modified)?
- Does the brand you’re buying from have good reviews online?
- Does the brand offer you access to third-party lab analyses and batch testing reports that certify the quality of their CBD products?
By following these guidelines, you’re more likely to buy high-quality CBD oil and topicals which increase the chances of getting better results from your psoriasis treatment.
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Check out our choices for the best CBD for relief from skin discomfort:
Looking for more CBD content like this? Check out How Long Before Bed Should You Take CBD, and our guide on Can you Take Too Much CBD.
