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CBD, short for cannabidiol, is often mistaken for marijuana, but it is actually an active ingredient of cannabis. It has powerful antioxidants that help with a variety of skin issues, and its gentle nature makes it great for all skin types. CBD helps moisturize dry skin and also is soothing to sensitive skin and enables damaged skin to heal faster. CBD also has has anti-inflammatory properties, making it good for reducing redness and inflammation from acne.
CBD’s soothing properties make it an excellent skincare ingredient for sensitive skin. Because it is an herbal ingredient, CBD is a great option for reducing redness, inflammation, sensitivity and reactivity for anyone seeking a hypoallergenic skincare regimen.
Research has shown CBD to be anti-inflammatory, making it beneficial for reducing redness and swelling from acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and more. Another benefit for acne sufferers is the ability of CBD to decrease excess sebum (oil) production.
CBD is also a great anti-aging ingredient, as it is made up of powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants fight free radicals produced during oxidation that damage our skin cells. Using CBD on your skin regularly will fight daily damage from UV and pollution, keeping your skin bright, youthful, and reducing the visibility of wrinkles.
CBD can interact negatively with other medication, so if you’re taking any medicines – especially anything that comes with a “grapefruit warning” – you should consult your doctor before using CBD in any form. Some side-effects caused by CBD extracts include diarrhea, changes in appetite, and fatigue.
Melasma is a specific example of hyperpigmentation. Melasma looks like whole patches of brown or darker skin across the parts of the face and neck. Melasma is common among women who are pregnant - it’s even referred to as “the mask of pregnancy.” But melasma can occur in both men and women who are not pregnant, too. Melasma can be caused by UV damage, but there are also genetic, hormonal, and medication-induced causes for melasma, too.
There are a variety of topical ingredients that can be used to lighten the skin from melasma or reduce its appearance. Each ingredient works in different ways, and each has their own benefits and drawbacks. hydroquinone, arbutin, vitamin C (ascorbic acid, and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, etc) are some of the most commonly used ingredients for melasma treatment.
Hydroquinone is a skin lightening cream that works by suppressing the production of melanin. There are drawbacks to using hydroquinone, however, including cancer risks demonstrated by recent scientific studies, as well as hydroquinone-induced ochronosis.
Arbutin is a synthesized derivative of hydroquinone. It acts as a powerful skin lightening ointment that works a bit differently than hydroquinone. It blocks the production of melanin instead of “bleaching” the skin.
Vitamin C can be used as a brightening agent to lighten the hyperpigmentation of your sunspots or melasma. It works by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, preventing the formation of melatonin.
Ascorbic Acid is actually the formal scientific name for one form of Vitamin C. It can refer to either a naturally occurring Vitamin C found in foods such as citrus, or a synthetic form of ascorbic acid created to be more shelf-stable for skincare products like discoloration repair lotions and creams.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is another form of Vitamin C. By synthesizing this compound from Vitamin C, dermatologists are able to give us all the benefits of Vitamin C in a more shelf-stable form that can also be soluble in oil to make more effective, deeper penetrating skin products. (Herndon 2016)
Ingredients in the vitamin A family (ie. Retinol, tretinoin, etc) and acids (glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid) help damaged pigmented skin cells shred faster, so they also help with melasma.
CBD may be effective for melasma, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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