A beginner’s guide to topical cannabinoids and CBD cream

Key Points	Description
What is CBD Cream?	A lotion-type product infused with CBD, and often other ingredients.
Why Apply CBD Cream?	Patients may apply CBD cream for its potential benefits and ease of application. It may help relieve muscle and joint aches, discomfort from the symptoms of skin health issues and reduce skin redness.
How Does it Work?	CBD creams may interact with the human endocannabinoid system (ECS) to provide some relief from skin symptoms.
Application	Apply a small amount of CBD cream to the affected area of the skin. The amount needed may vary based on potency and individual needs.
Choosing a Cream	Look for quality standards, testing procedures, and adherence to regulations. Check for a certificate of analysis (COA) to ensure purity and safety. Consider the concentration, ingredients and whether the cream is full-spectrum, broad-spectrum or isolate. Over-the-counter creams should contain no more than 1mg of each controlled cannabinoid, like THC, per container.
Potential Side Effects	Some potential side effects include rash, irritation, or skin reaction. It's recommended to apply a small amount to your skin first to test for any adverse effects. Always seek the advice of a healthcare professional before applying.

CBD cream comes in a range of product types. It’s most often a thick lotion that contains CBD, secondary cannabinoids, terpenes and sometimes other ingredients, such as fragrance.

Depending on the individual product, CBD creams come in various potency strengths, and it’s important to choose one that’s tested with a certificate of analysis (COA). 

Before trying topical CBD, it’s important to chat to your GP or pharmacist, who can help advise and make sure you’re not on any medications that could interact with CBD cream.

What is CBD Cream?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the over 110 cannabinoids found in the medical cannabis and hemp plants and studies suggest that it may be beneficial for patients living with a range of conditions. 

Quite simply, CBD creams are skincare products that contain CBD as one of their active ingredients.

How does CBD cream work?

CBD creams may have the potential to provide relief from a range of skin-related issues due to the cannabinoid’s ability to interact with the human endocannabinoid system (ECS). 

The system exists throughout our entire body, with the skin (our largest organ) containing a large number of ECS receptors. It consists of our own endocannabinoids, the CB1 and CB2 receptors that cannabinoids have the ability to interact with, and enzymes that break down the cannabinoids once their role has been played out.

When topical creams are applied to the skin, they are sometimes absorbed into the epidermal layer. Once absorbed, the contained active ingredient (in this case, CBD) might have the ability to interact with the receptors. It is through these interactions that CBD topicals are thought to affect the body, and potentially relieve the target issue or symptom.

What does CBD cream do to your body?

CBD cream is thought to interact with the endocannabinoid system in a way that might be able to relieve certain skin symptoms, including inflammation and itching. 

What may CBD cream help with? 

CBD cream for eczema

CBD for the face and body has become a possible aid for some patients with eczema due to CBD’s potential ability to lessen inflammation. CBD may also help relieve the itching associated with eczema, but more research is needed before that can be confirmed. 

CBD cream for psoriasis 

Similarly, CBD cream may also be helpful to psoriasis patients managing symptoms like itching and pain, but research is currently limited. One 2019 study found that topical CBD cream reduced the symptoms and severity of both eczema and psoriasis, but there were only twenty participants, half with eczema and half with psoriasis, and there was no comparison group.

CBD cream for acne

Some research suggests CBD cream may be useful to people living with acne. This is thought to be thanks to CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, or its potential ability to regulate sebum production. However, some CBD creams may contain other ingredients, such as fragrance, that could irritate skin, so caution is needed.

CBD cream for joint pain

Although it’s limited, some research suggests that CBD cream may help patients with arthritis manage symptoms of joint pain. For example, a 2022 double-blind study featuring 18 participants with arthritis found that topical CBD reduced reported pain and improved reported hand function compared with a placebo group. 

CBD cream for muscle aches

Research on CBD cream and muscle aches is very limited and mixed. One randomised trial of 60 people with jaw muscle aches suggested that topical CBD might be able to reduce pain and tension in the jaw muscles. However, this was a very narrow trial and other studies suggest CBD cream might have no effect on muscle aches. 

CBD cream for neuropathy

A four-week randomised, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken to look into the potential for symptomatic relief of patients living with peripheral neuropathy using transdermal CBD. The group with the CBD oil saw a reduction in sharp pain, cold and itchy sensations, along with intense pain, compared to the placebo group. While more evidence is needed, this study suggests that CBD cream could potentially help those with neuropathic pain manage symptoms. 

How is CBD cream applied, and how much?

CBD cream can be applied straight to the affected areas of the skin, where it may be absorbed into the epidermal layer. 

Anecdotally, some patients find that applying just a small amount of CBD cream, and then carefully and slowly massaging it into the affected area in a circular motion, is the most effective mode of application.

There’s no official guidance on how much CBD cream you can put on your skin. The concentration varies between products, so it’s always best to be careful and start with a low dosage to avoid any side effects.

How to choose the right CBD topical?

There are countless topical CBD creams available now, but it’s important to be wary because labelling of over-the-counter products isn’t always accurate. A 2023 study of CBD products bought in the UK found most contained less CBD than the label said, although it didn’t test creams. 

When it comes to selecting the right topical, take time to consider your own individual needs and do your due diligence. There are also some basic tips on choosing an over-the-counter CBD option, should you choose to go down that route:

• Look for third-party lab results – Make sure that the product you are buying has been tested by a third-party laboratory and that the COA is available on request.

• Check the packaging info lines up with the COA – Make sure that the information on the packaging lines up with the details on the COA

• Check for added ingredients – If you are allergic to certain ingredients, make sure that you take the time to check what else has been added to the CBD topicals.

• Check for dosage guidelines – Make sure that any CBD topical you buy comes with suggested dosage guidelines. This will help to ensure that you don’t over or underdose the product.

• One red flag that you should be aware of is any company making sweeping medical claims. Cannabis research is still in its infancy, and while there is emerging science backing up the idea that CBD may be a therapeutic option for a range of health-related issues, CBD products sold in shops can’t make medical claims.

Should you take full-spectrum, broad-spectrum or isolate CBD topicals?

Let’s quickly explain the difference between the three options:

• Full-spectrum topical creams contain the entire chemical makeup of the plant that the CBD was extracted from, including any THC (and other secondary cannabinoids), terpenes, and flavonoids. A CBD cream sold in the UK can contain no more than 1 mg of each controlled cannabinoid, like THC, per container.

• Broad-spectrum topical creams contain the entire chemical makeup of the plant, with the exception of THC.

• Topicals containing CBD isolate will have just that, only the CBD, isolated from the rest of the plant’s chemical makeup.

The entourage effect theory suggests that a combination of all of the chemical compounds found within the cannabis plant work together to offer greater therapeutic effects than when administered separately. However, this isn’t scientifically confirmed. 

What are the side effects of CBD cream?

According to the American Academy Of Dermatology, potential CBD topical side effects can include:

• Rash

• Irritation

• Skin reaction

It’s recommended you apply a small amount to a patch of your skin to be sure that you are not showing any signs of allergic reaction or side effects from CBD cream before applying it on the affected area.

FAQs

Is CBD cream legal in the UK? 

CBD cream is legal in the UK as long as it contains no more than 1mg of each controlled cannabinoid, like THC, per container.

Do I need a prescription for CBD cream? 

You don’t need a prescription for an over-the-counter CBD cream. However, if a cream contains more than 1mg of a controlled cannabinoid per container, it shouldn’t be sold legally. 

Final thoughts on CBD lotion

Research suggests that CBD topicals may offer a range of therapeutic benefits that may help some people living with skin conditions such as eczema.

However, before deciding on one, make sure you do your research and get a good understanding of what you’re looking to get out of the product. Additionally, be sure to read up on dosage information and any potential side effects, and always seek the advice of a medical professional before using CBD. 

If you’re living with a skin condition and would like to know if medical cannabis might be an option for you, our online eligibility checker is quick and free.

Releaf - Redefining healthcare