Stressed Skin? Try CBD
We all get stressed. Whether we’re burnt out at work or worried about an event in our life or the wider world, stress is almost inevitable at some stage in our lives. Our body and mind are intrinsically linked, so it’s unsurprising that when we’re going through periods of high anxiety, our skin gives us a warning.
In recent years, people with stressed out skin, including skin conditions like eczema, rosacea and acne, have turned to the all-natural therapeutic powers of CBD to rebalance their skin, mind and body. In this post, we look at what stress can do to your skin, the lifestyle factors that can throw off your body’s natural balance, and the benefits of CBD for skin that needs some TLC.
What does stress do to the skin?
Mental health and skin health go hand-in-hand. When the body experiences stress, the hormone cortisol spikes, prompting our oil glands to increase their production, leading to oily skin and blocked pores. This increase in oil can also cause inflammation; the root cause of skin problems like acne and skin discoloration (like rosacea).
The higher levels of cortisol in our system in turn weaken our immune system and the body’s natural defences. In our body we have inflammatory cytokines; small proteins that are crucial in controlling the growth and activity of immune system cells. When we experience stress, these cytokines are affected. We can experience dry, sensitive skin and the exacerbation of pre-existing skin conditions like eczema.
Stress and life in the UAE
There’s a reason why people in the UAE are seeking natural and therapeutic treatments like CBD for stressed out skin. The UAE is regarded as one of the major business centres in the world; and this doesn’t come without a lot of pressure on our workforce. In fact, according to a survey by Arabian Business, UAE employees are among the most stressed in the world.
It’s not just a high-pressure working environment that contributes to aggravated skin, though. The extreme weather conditions also play a big role in our skin health. With temperatures in the UAE reaching highs of 55 degrees Celsius in the summer, and with very mild winters, our skin is subject to burning heat and heavy sun protection creams. Both of these upset our skin’s pores and natural balance, leading to increased oil production. Of course, there is an alternative to spending the daytime in overwhelming heat, but spending a lot of time indoors can be equally detrimental to skin health, with air conditioning being a huge cause of dry, flaky skin.
The UAE also has an issue with air quality. According to IQAir, an air quality technology company that provides information on the air freshness of every country, Dubai’s pollution levels place it in the ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ bracket. This means the poorness of air quality is particularly dangerous to vulnerable members of the population. Poor air quality unsurprisingly impacts overall physical health. Like a drooping plant grown in poor quality soil, we humans can experience damaged skin, among a variety of other health implications, when we breathe polluted air daily.
CBD can restore your stressed skin
How? CBD restores the skin’s natural balance in the face of so many factors – from mental health to the climate. And it all comes down to our body’s largest organ: the skin.
Human skin has its own immune system and is a source of hormones and sensory nerves, all of which function to keep the body regulated and protected. We also have something known as the endocannabinoid system in the skin, which promotes oil balance, maintains skin cell function and supports the immune system.
Enter CBD. Short for cannabidiol, CBD is an active ingredient derived from the hemp plant; a specific variety of the cannabis sativa plant.
Our skin is covered in cannabinoid receptors to benefit from the endocannabinoids we naturally create to heal ourselves. The skin’s endocannabinoid system works hard to fight inflammation and regulate oil production, so when you apply CBD you’re giving your skin a helping hand. Your cannabinoid receptors immediately recognise CBD and know exactly what to do with it.
Among its many benefits, CBD reduces inflammation and regulates your skin’s oil glands to ensure you produce a good balance of natural oils, meaning it can be effectively used to treat rosacea and acne. It’s also a natural ingredient that does not have the psychoactive effects of marijuana, making it safe for regular use and suitable for all skin types.
What type of CBD product will help my stressed skin?
There are a variety of topical products containing CBD for your face and body, from creams and butters, to oils and serums. So, how do you choose the right CBD product for you?
To care for your stressed skin, you’ll want to choose a product that interacts with your endocannabinoid system to reap those natural benefits. The answer? A product with a high CBD concentration. Often referred to as ‘full spectrum’, this CBD type is the only concentration that includes the all-important cannabinoids.
Juana Skin has one of the highest CBD concentrations of any skincare range. We mix our farm-fresh CBD with potent botanicals proven to help stressed skin (check out our Zen Me Out Face Oil, with rhodiola rosea adaptogens to calm the skin).
Our CBD products are all full spectrum for maximum skin benefits and are clinically proven to balance your skin, mind and body.
At Juana Skin, our all-natural formulations include therapeutic-grade botanical extracts that support and enhance the benefits of CBD.
