Infused Topicals

What do beauty creams, burn ointments, massage oil, soap, lip balm and lotion all have in common? They can all be infused with cannabis or specific cannabinoids derived from the plant such as CBD. They’re all topicals as well, which means they’re applied to the skin and absorbed rather than being ingested or inhaled like your typical cannabis concoction.

Infused topicals are not typically used to get high, they’re used to relieve a symptom or improve the condition of the site it’s applied to. While more studies are needed to make any conclusive claims regarding whether cannabis offers medical benefits as a topical, reviewers report that it has helped as a topical ingredient in a variety of ways. Anecdotal evidence points to the notion that cannabis might help reduce inflammation, even in regards to burns, it may act as an analgesic providing localized pain relief, it may offer anti-bacterial benefits in soaps and creams, and a study has found that it helps inhibit the buildup of dead skin cells which is the main cause of psoriasis.

And yet another study has also suggested that cannabis’s antioxidant properties may be more powerful than other vitamins such as E and C when it comes to skincare, so it could help reduce or slow signs of aging. Despite all the questions that arise regarding cannabis as a topical, it’s certain that Studies have confirmed cannabinoid receptors exist in the skin, and the cannabinoids from cannabis may interact with them to produce various results that still need to be studied.

As medical research marches on, topicals continue to be sold in dispensaries offering both patients and those who are curious an alternative route to take in regard to skin care, pain relief, and symptom care.