As the name suggests, CBD topicals are topical products infused with CBD and meant for exclusive external use. This category in CBD has been gaining popularity recently due to the convenient and risk free intake method it offers. Because the CBD topicals are applied on the skin surface and not consumed like sublingual or edible CBD, the users need not worry about even the slightest possible side effects.
What Are The Ingredients Of CBD Topical?
A CBD topical is basically a normal topical like a cream or lotion that contains CBD. Hence it will contain ingredients like vitamin E, shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba etc. These skin nourishing ingredients amplify the benefits offered by the CBD topicals.
What Are The Uses Of CBD Topicals?
CBD topicals are used for pain relief as well as skincare products.
Topical Pain Relief
The endocannabinoid system of the body regulates major body functions that include pain sensations, mood, sleep, appetite etc. Multiple receptors of the system are spread across various body parts that include the skin, and the pain relief CBD topicals focus on influencing the endocanabinoid receptors on the skin.
As we apply the CBD topical onto the skin, it penetrates across skin layers and CBD interacts with the cannabinoid receptors. Instead of binding to the receptors directly, CBD influences the receptors indirectly.
CBD topicals can relieve the following pain symptoms:
- Arthritis
- Menstrual cramps
- migraines
- Joint pain
Treating Skin Disorders
Inflammation of the skin is characteristic of several skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis etc. Flaky skin and red lesions on the skin surface are the common symptoms of the autoimmune disorder, psoriasis. The disease is caused by the inefficiency of the immune system to distinguish between foreign cells and own body cells due to which immune system attacks the skin cells causing the rapid falling off and regeneration of skin cells.
Common places where psoriasis appears include scalp, elbows, joints, palms, back etc. The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD as well as the inhibitory effect it produces on the growth of keratinocytes, the cells that produces new cells and renews the epithelium make it a suitable therapeutic that can treat psoriasis symptoms. CBD helps to normalize the cell production cycle by controlling the overproduction keratinocytes in people with psoriasis thereby causing a significant reduction of scaly skin.
General Skin Care
CBD topicals are excellent skincare products that keep the skin hydrated. Some topicals can be used to control acne that is caused by the over-activity of sebaceous glands.
Guide To Applying CBD Topicals
Although dosing decision of CBD topicals doesn’t require that much focus as that of ingestible CBD products, it is recommended to take a fingertip full of topical for one use.
Below given are some of the guidelines to applying CBD topicals on skin
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Test For An Allergic Reaction
As CBD is a exclusive plant compound, the topicals infused with CBD rarely cause allergic symptoms in users. Even if that is the case, testing it for an allergic reaction prior to applying the cream on the skin is important, as the possibility of allergic reaction cannot be ignored completely.
While you are buying the CBD topicals, check its list of ingredients to find out whether it contains any ingredient that you are allergic to. After you ensure that the ingredients will not cause an allergy, spot test a small amount of the topical on your skin and wait for the reaction. If there is no allergic response, you may go ahead with the purchase.
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Identify The Target Area And Clean It
The step might seem too simple but it isn’t. If you are using CBD topicals to relieve pain, it has to be applied on the exact source of pain that doesn’t always need to be the area where you feel the pain.
People usually apply CBD topicals onto the neck, back, shoulders, calves etc for targeted pain relief but it can be applied anywhere in your body. Before applying the cream, clean the affected area well and dry it.
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Apply The Cream
Apply the cream onto the target area, gently rub it and wait for the CBD to kick in. You have to measure the reaction precisely so that you may reapply the topical when necessary.
The unregulated nature of the CBD market and the oversaturated selection of products have made the selection process of CBD complicated and time consuming.
The label of CBD topicals will contain information about its ingredients, THC content, third party lab results etc. Make sure that all the required information is clearly mentioned in the label. If a topical brand is not being transparent about its ingredients, THC content or any relevant details, it is better not to choose the brand.