Acne vulgaris is reportedly the most common skin disease affecting humans. This skin condition, most noticeably showing itself as pimples, occurs most commonly in ages 12 through 24, although persons of any age can be affected.
The causes of pimply skin include unwanted sebocyte cell growth, too much sebum, and inflammation.
Sebocytes are cells that make up your skin's oil glands and are found on most of your skin, except on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands. Sebocytes create sebum, a mixture of waxes, fatty acids, sugars, and other chemicals, essentially your body's lotion, which moisturizes and protects your skin’s surface from the environment.
While sebum is critical to your skin’s health, sometimes your body can produce too much of a good thing. Overproduction of sebum is one facet of the formation of acne. Excess sebum clogs the sebaceous glands, creating a cozy place for bacteria to grow.
Research is ongoing for treatments to improve the quality of life for millions of people worldwide who suffer from acne. However, finding treatments that target the multiple modes of acne pathogenesis and have limited side effects has been difficult.
CBD and Acne
The human endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex cell-to-cell signaling network vital to central nervous system development, the ability of our synapses to change and adapt, and the body’s ability to respond to both internal and external factors that cause damage.
Our skin has its own ECS that regulates skin cell growth and differentiation. In addition, the skin's endocannabinoid system exerts anti-inflammatory effects and even regulates sebum production.
In studies on human skin cultures, CBD effectively inhibited excess lipid creation caused by various factors. CBD also showed the ability to normalize abnormal and excessive lipid production caused by known acne-promoting stimuli.
Another critical effect of CBD was its ability to inhibit the growth of excess sebocyte cells. Amazingly treatment with CBD never reduced the sebocyte cell count below the starting number recorded before acne vulgaris was induced. This means that CBD doesn't just reduce the number of sebocyte cells willy-nilly but brings balance to the system.
CBD also acted as an anti-inflammatory in treating acne vulgaris, completely normalizing the expression of inflammatory cytokines.
CBD did not cause normal cell death or abnormal necrosis of sebocytes, making it a safe treatment.
Your Acne Treatment Routine
Consider Sweet Earth’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser as part of your acne treatment routine. In addition to CBD, our facial cleanser contains lavender flower water, oat straw extract, honey, and vitamin E, among other nourishing ingredients.
Both lavender and vitamin E are well-known to be soothing to the skin with their healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Benefits of Oat Straw for Skin Inflammation
An ingredient you may be less familiar with, oat straw extract, is rich in beneficial nutrients. It is high in silica which is a significant component of collagen synthesis for healthy skin and hair. In addition, the trace minerals in oats and oat straw are highly bioavailable and nourishing to your body.
Oat straw anti-oxidants have been shown to reduce redness and itching and have consistently demonstrated benefits in reducing the effects of inflammatory skin conditions. They also protect skin cells against environmental damage, including UV radiation.
Benefits of Honey for Treating Acne
Honey has been used in medicine for centuries, and recent studies have confirmed its healing effects. This sweet treat consists of at least 181 components, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and amino acids.
Honey is particularly effective as a wound dressing because it inhibits the growth of fungi and bacteria. Wounds heal more quickly and leave smaller scars when treated with honey. Honey lowers pH, reduces pain and inflammation, and helps skin cells to migrate and deposit collagen as needed for wound healing.
Honey stimulates microcirculation in skin tissue, leading to better oxygenation and nutrition. This, in turn, increases metabolic processes resulting in detoxification and increased regeneration, leaving skin with improved elasticity and color.
See our Hydrating Facial Cleanser here.
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