Cannabinoids and Their Receptors in Skin Diseases

November 2023 in “ International journal of molecular sciences ”

Eun Hee Yoo, Ji Hyun Lee

cannabinoids CBD THC eczema psoriasis acne pruritus skin cancer CB1 receptors CB2 receptors inflammation cytokine production mast cell growth PEA atopic dermatitis CBD ointment cannabidiol tetrahydrocannabinol palmitoylethanolamide

Studysummary This article highlights that while cannabinoids show potential for treating various skin conditions, current evidence is largely preclinical, with a need for comprehensive clinical trials to confirm these promising effects.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The article "Cannabinoids and Their Receptors in Skin Diseases" examines the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids like CBD and THC in treating skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, pruritus, and skin cancer. Cannabinoids interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors to modulate inflammation, reduce cytokine production, and inhibit mast cell growth. Clinical trials have shown promising results, such as a 58.6% reduction in symptoms for 2,456 atopic dermatitis patients using PEA and significant improvements in psoriasis with 2.5% CBD ointment. Despite these positive findings, further research and large-scale clinical trials are needed to fully understand and optimize cannabinoid-based treatments for skin diseases.

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In this study, topical CBD significantly increased hair count by 93.5% over six months in individuals with androgenetic alopecia, with no adverse effects reported.

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This study found that a shampoo containing 0.075% broad-spectrum cannabidiol significantly reduced scalp inflammation and symptoms in subjects with mild to moderate scalp psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis within two weeks.

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15 citations , July 2019 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This exploratory study found that cannabidiol (CBD) at higher concentrations may inhibit hair growth by promoting the onset of catagen in human hair follicles, while lower concentrations showed potential anti-inflammatory effects without promoting catagen.

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53 citations , October 2012 in “The FASEB Journal”

This study found that bimatoprost stimulated hair growth in both human scalp follicle cultures and mouse pelage in vivo, suggesting it might offer a promising treatment for scalp alopecias.

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This article discusses the hair follicle's regenerative cycles and the molecular mechanisms influencing them, emphasizing the need for therapeutic targeting of the "hair cycle clock" to manage hair growth disorders, without reporting new research findings.