Study: CBD Cream Shows Promise in Reducing Sun-Induced Skin Injury

New research from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, in collaboration with the Center for Clinical and Cosmetic Research, suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) has potential in preventing skin damage from ultraviolet-A (UVA) radiation.

Researchers for the 19-participant trial applied a nano-encapsulated CBD cream or a control cream to their skin for 14 days. Post-exposure analysis showed that 21% of participants had reduced redness in the CBD-treated areas at 24 hours post-exposure. Participants who had treated skin saw reduced UCA-induced epidermal hyperplasia (P = 0.01). Additionally, CBD-treated skin showed significantly less DNA damage compared to controls.

The small sample size was cited as a limitation. 

“This innovative trial is the first to establish the potential protective capacity of CBD, when purposefully delivered, in humans against the harmful effects of UVA radiation, both validating and marking a significant advancement in the field of cannabinoid based skin care,” said Adam Friedman, MD, professor and chair of dermatology at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, said in a press release. "These findings will hopefully reinvigorate research efforts and investment in translating the preclinical knowledge we have on the impact of CBD in the skin to many areas within dermatology and beyond.”

Source: George Washington University press release. July 16, 2024.

McCormick E, et al. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2024. Doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2024.06.088