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Rosacea is more than just a little redness in the cheeks. It’s a long-term skin condition that mainly affects the face. But, symptoms can occur all over the body, and some of these include:
- Redness across your nose, cheeks, forehead, chin, neck and chest. This can initially come (usually lasting for a few minutes) and go, but can eventually happen for longer periods of time and sometimes even leave a permanent mark
- Your face may feel warm, hot or painful
- Burning or stinging when using water or skincare products
- Dry skin
- Swelling, especially around the eyes
- Yellow-orange patches of skin
- Sore eyelids or crusty eyelashes
- Thicker skin, mainly on the nose
Although rosacea is more common in women, symptoms can be worse in men. It’s harder to see on darker skin tones, but the same symptoms can be felt.
The causes of rosacea are unknown, but we do know that things like alcohol, spicy foods, hot drinks, sunlight, hot or cold temperatures, aerobic exercises like running and stress could trigger it. There’s also no cure. But, there are some things you can do to ease the symptoms like applying creams, taking antibiotics, and avoiding the list of possible triggers we mentioned above, especially if you find they make your symptoms worse.
Since 2018, medical cannabis has been legally available on prescription through licensed clinics like Alternaleaf for 50+ conditions. You can find out if you’re eligible by completing the quick questionnaire on our website. It’s unlikely you’ll get a medical cannabis prescription for rosacea, but it may potentially help some of the symptoms that come with this skin condition, like anxiety.
Below we’ll be exploring CBD oil for rosacea.
Can CBD Help Ease Rosacea Symptoms?
CBD is one of over 100 cannabinoids, or compounds, found in the cannabis plant. It’s also non-psychoactive, so won’t ever make you feel ‘high’, something that can sometimes be associated with recreational cannabis use.
When added to a cream or oil, CBD may be able to help ease the symptoms of rosacea. Be aware that you should never use CBD for skincare if it’s not been formulated for that specific use. However, when it has, you’ll find that it may be able to soothe inflammation and reduce skin sensitivity, two common symptoms of rosacea. We dive into this a little more below.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of CBD on Skin
Believe it or not, there’s a link between CBD and inflammation. In fact, CBD oils and creams can be an effective tool to potentially treat inflammation. For example, in this study it was seen to have had a “statistically significant” impact on participants.
Antioxidant Effects
Another one of the benefits of CBD oil for sensitive skin, is: when applied directly to the skin, there’s some data to suggest that CBD oil can ease the irritation caused by skin conditions. This is due to CBD’s antioxidant properties, which can help soothe and revitalise skin. A 2019 study also found that CBD may be useful for dry and itchy skin.
Choosing the Right CBD Skincare for Rosacea
There is no one size fits all when it comes to CBD, so it’s hard to say for a fact the best CBD strains for rosacea. Plus, remember that everyone is different, and the way one person may react to a certain treatment, may not be the same as how you react. But, starting low and going slow when introducing CBD is always recommended, so that you can check for any unwanted effects.
The fact that CBD products are non-psychoactive, also means they’re available to buy over the counter in supermarkets and high street shops.
It’s important to keep in mind that CBD creams purchased over the counter aren't strictly monitored, and can be unregulated. You may not always be able to trust that the contents are reliable. That’s why it’s better to seek the help of a licensed clinic like Alternaleaf, where you can find medication that contains both CBD and THC. It’s monitored, trusted and personalised to you and your symptoms.
You can also purchase CBD products from Alternaleaf’s Pharmacy, Montu Pharmacy. And because they’re non-prescription products, you can order them without a prescription, but still trust the source you’re purchasing from.
But, if you are purchasing products over the counter, please try and make sure to buy/look out for lab-tested and fragrance-free formulations.
Risks and Patch Testing CBD Creams
Some unwanted side effects of CBD oil may include reduced appetite, diarrhoea and drowsiness.
It’s also rare, but possible, for some people to experience irritation on the skin. The best thing to always do when using a new product is to patch test it. Apply a small amount of the CBD cream to a patch of skin, and wait to see if you have a negative reaction.
It’s possible CBD can interact with other medications including drugs for epilepsy, antidepressants, opioid pain killers and Warfarin (a blood thinner). So, if you’re prescribed any of these, it’s a good idea to have a conversation with your Doctor to check if CBD creams are safe for you to use alongside.
FAQs
Is full-spectrum CBD safe for rosacea?
Firstly let's cover what full-spectrum actually is. If any CBD product features a range of compounds extracted from a cannabis plant – like cannabinoids (CBD but also THC, another cannabinoid that’s found in the cannabis plant that is psychoactive, and lesser known ones), terpenes (which is the part of any plant that produces its smell), essential oils and flavonoids – it’s classed as full spectrum.
The blend of cannabis plant extracts is vital, because the compounds have been known to work better together, and have a more profound impact on the body. This is known as the entourage effect.
However, full spectrum products, when purchased over the counter, have strict limits on THC content and can only contain trace amounts. Whereas prescribed full spectrum products can contain higher amounts of THC. This is why it may be better to seek the help of a licensed medical cannabis clinic like Alternaleaf if you’re seeking a higher THC content to potentially help ease some of the symptoms of rosacea, like anxiety.
When used as prescribed or instructed, full-spectrum CBD is considered safe for rosacea.
How soon will CBD show results on skin?
This can be different for everyone. As we said above, the way you react to a product, may be completely different to how someone else reacts to a product. So, it really is about trying different things until you find what works for you. And starting low and slow of course.
Summary
So, that’s a short guide on what you need to know when it comes to CBD cream for rosacea in the UK. From topical CBD for facial redness to full-spectrum CBD oils, it’s possible to work towards finding something that works for you and your skin.
But, if you want more information, it’s probably better to get personalised advice. We recommend contacting your GP, a dermatologist, or seek the help of a licensed medical cannabis clinic like Alternaleaf. If you’re considering medical cannabis treatment, find out if you’re eligible by heading to our website and completing our 30 second questionnaire.