The list of medical uses marijuana could have is expanding fast. It has already been reported to be able to help relieve pain associated with certain diseases, and alleviate symptoms of depression, PTSD, and even neurodegenerative diseases. Another aspect of its application has recently become the object of several studies. According to researchers, cannabis could help treat eczema.
What is eczema?
Eczema is a chronic skin condition, which manifests itself in a red rash that is itchy but painful if scratched. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of the disease. To reduce symptoms, one can grab an over-the-counter medication, but it appears that quite a large number of patients with eczema do not respond to such treatment, and symptoms persist.
While manifestations of eczema may look like allergy symptoms, the nature of it does not seem to be related to allergy proper. The causes of it remain unknown, but among the possible explanations are immune system problems, genetic peculiarities, and environmental factors that lead to increased skin sensitivity.
A new kind of treatment
To alleviate symptoms, you can use topical steroids, but some people are afraid of using them because of possible adverse effects. New research findings and anecdotal evidence suggest compounds derived from cannabis can help treat eczema. If the approach is found to be effective, such medications may become an alternative to steroids.
Cannabis comprises many compounds, but CBD and THC have attracted special attention due to their effects. The latter is the one responsible for the getting-high effect, and the former is reported to be able to help treat depression and neurodegenerative diseases and reduce pain in certain groups of patients. A team of researchers is currently working on a study funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health, and its aim is to find out whether CBD can help treat eczema in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Those with Parkinson’s often have a rash, which may be difficult to treat and is called seborrheic dermatitis. It appears on the face, usually near the nose. The 40 patients enrolled will be provided with a drug based on CBD. The project is underway, but the researchers already have evidence that cannabinoids could help relieve psoriasis- and eczema-induced pain.
Despite being legalized in many states–with more to follow them–cannabis is still difficult to be researched, and not only for reasons related to science proper: it is included in the list of prohibited substances with no proven medical use, which hinders research and makes it difficult to launch projects aimed at revealing new potential uses of the plant compounds.
CBD appears to be a viable treatment option in several fields of medicine, but skin problems can become another addition to the range of conditions the symptoms of which it can help alleviate. More research is needed to enable scientists and organizations like FDA to approve the use of CBD as a medication.
It is still not approved, but it does not prevent companies from offering various drugs and topicals based on cannabis-derived compounds. Many of them promise fast results, but you should remember that the overwhelming majority of the bottles available on the market are not as effective as it is stated on their labels. You never know what is actually in them, and it’s not the case when the-more-the-better approach is reasonable.
If you suffer from eczema, do not use topicals or other medications containing cannabis compounds unless prescribed by a professional.