Chain Drug Review, March 16th, 2020

THE BUSINESS OF CBD The Hidden Magic of CBD in Dermatology Dermatology is one of the most recent therapeutic uses for CBD CBD is beneficial and effective for all skin types By Benjamin Knight Fuchs CBD which is found in abundance in the cannabis plant is also present throughout the botanical world and can be isolated from echinacea hops black truffles and the cocoa bean as well as spices like black pepper and cinnamon While there are over 60 plant cannabinoids found in the natural world CBD is the most studied and the one that currently gets all the press Products that contain CBD are characterized as either full spectrum meaning they contain a wide variety of cannabinoids and terpenes in addition to CBD or alternatively isolates that feature only cannabidiol in their formulations The secret to CBDs potency and simultaneously benign nature is in the endocannabinoids a system of fundamental endogenous lipid neurotransmitters that are found in all vertebrates from fish to birds to reptiles to mammals to human beings The endocannabinoids regulate numerous metabolic functions including energy metabolism and nutrient delivery to cells They can affect the liver digestive tract and the pancreas as well as muscle and liver cells Because phytocannabinoids like CBD are molecularly matched to those naturally produced in animals they can achieve equivalent biological effects in a nontoxic fashion making for an ideal therapeutic modality These days CBD containing products are being used to treat a wide variety of health challenges including anxiety insomnia obesity atherosclerosis and heart disease Perhaps CBDs best known role is as an antidiabetic substance Recently the first FDA approved CBD drug Epidolex was released for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome two rare forms of epilepsy One of the most recent therapeutic uses for CBD is in dermatology Like other cannabinoids CBD is thought to be an important mediator in skin cell chemistry Topical use of CBD in skin care products is becoming an important new modality for this multifunctional molecule The so called cutannabinoid system encompasses nerve cells in the dermis as well as immune cells and keratinocytes all of which express cannabinoid receptors that bind to CBD The system is involved in the maintenance and regeneration of the skin barrier and its dysregulation has been implicated in numerous skin pathologies This gives cannabidiol containing topical products the potential to treat a wide variety of skin health issues including allergic contact dermatitis asteatotic dermatitis atopic dermatitis hidradenitis suppurativa Kaposi sarcoma Benjamin Knight Fuchs Mox Mind Body pruritus psoriasis skin cancer and the cutaneous manifestations of systemic sclerosis Recently it has been shown that cannabinoids like CBD can help stabilize sebum secretion and slow down hyperproliferation of skin cells that is associated with acne lesions And in the case of dry skin CBD can enhance sebum secretion improving this common cutaneous condition too CBDs calming and anti inflammatory properties make it the perfect ingredient for soothing irritation associated with skin sensitivities CBD is thought to be an important mediator in skin cell chemistry And perhaps most excitingly scientists are looking into the possibility that CBD can slow down skin aging giving the multibillion dollar antiaging skin care marketplace a possible new ingredient darling CBD prevents free radical damage and reduces inflammation making it an ideal active ingredient for preventing free radical damage reducing the appearance of wrinkles fine lines and photodamage According to research published in the Proceedings of the U S National Academy of Sciences cannabidiol was more protective against glutamate neurotoxicity than either ascorbate or α tocopherol indicating it to be a potent antioxidant CBD is considered beneficial and effective for all skin types its soothing calming and anti inflammatory and it can help prevent free radical damage associated with the sun and other environmental assaults And when its remarkable safety profile is assessed in combination with its numerous dermatological benefits it easy to see why the CBD skin care market is now well over 200 million annually and is expected to expand dramatically over the next five years Benjamin Knight Fuchs is a registered compounding pharmacist cosmetic chemist and nutritionist He hosts a daily radio show on nutrition and health called The Bright Side He is a cofounder of the CBD beauty brand Mox Mind Body 6 The Business of CBD March 16 2020