Side Effects of CBD Cream: What You Can Expect

Most of the publicity surrounding the CBD products that have hit the market in the last few years focuses on the internal consumption of CBD (cannabidiol). You often hear or read about:

• CBD edibles, which are available in a dizzying array of forms including gummies
• CBD oil, which is dropped under the tongue or mixed into food or beverages
• CBD capsules, which are a more convenient way to take CBD oil
• CBD vapes, suitable for the growing number of people who vape other substances

CBD creams, lotions, and other topical products don’t draw quite as much attention, but they’re red hot. Statista reports that CBD-infused skincare and beauty products are one of the fastest-growing segments of the market in both the UK and the US.

The apparent benefits of CBD topicals are different than those of other products made with cannabidiol. Topicals are applied to the skin, of course, and they usually don’t penetrate far enough to make it into the bloodstream. They don’t normally deliver many of the medical benefits attributed to cannabidiol in published research studies.

CBD creams and similar products, however, may help users with skin issues like acne, eczema, and psoriasis, and appear to provide some relief for surface-level pain caused by arthritis, neuropathy, and TMD (temporomandibular disorder) affecting the jaw. Some also believe cannabidiol can ease muscle and joint pain, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Even better, CBD creams and lotions deliver their apparent benefits without major side effects, and most users notice no ill effects at all. There are occasional reports of contact dermatitis causing rashes, issues, or redness, but since these products generally contain other skincare, pain relief, or moisturizing ingredients as well, it’s quite possible that CBD isn’t the actual cause.

Thinking about trying a CBD topical? Here’s a more complete look at these creams, lotions, and other types of skincare products.

All About CBD

Before we can talk about CBD creams, it makes sense to first discuss the cannabidiol they’re infused with.

The Basics of CBD (and THC)

CBD is a type of plant compound known as a cannabinoid. It’s one of more than 100 cannabinoids found in hemp.

The same compounds are in the cannabis plant, but hemp contains large amounts of cannabidiol and cannabis contains very little CBD. It’s the opposite story for the other major cannabinoid, psychoactive THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). There’s lots of THC in cannabis, but very little in hemp.

For those reasons, the CBD used to make topical products is extracted from hemp and it doesn’t intoxicate users. We’ll address the small amount of THC that’s contained in hemp and CBD shortly.

How CBD (and THC) Work in the Body

Both cannabinoids (the THC in cannabis, and the cannabidiol in CBD products) are used because of the effects they deliver once inside the body. Weed makes users high and provides some health and wellness benefits; CBD simply delivers its apparent medical benefits. They do that by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system, or ECS.

Discovered in the late 1980s, the ECS governs a huge number of the body’s important functions. It’s comprised of receptors, which send and receive control messages, and endocannabinoids, neurotransmitters produced in the body that carry messages between the receptors. The latter are very similar in structure to the cannabinoids we’ve been discussing.

There are two types of ECS receptors. CB1 receptors are mostly located in the brain and nervous system, and they regulate functions like thinking and memory, pain, sleep, and appetite. CB2 receptors are plentiful in other parts of the body and control immunity and inflammation, among other functions.

Here’s why those details matter. Once in the body, THC binds to CB1 receptors and CBD interacts primarily with CB2 receptors. That allows them to send their own messages through the ECS to affect the body’s functions, because of their similarity to endocannabinoids.

The details explain even more. THC’s impact on brain operations makes users high, while CBD’s interaction with ECS receptors in other areas of the body doesn’t cause intoxication. It’s also why many of the apparent medical benefits of the cannabinoids are different.

Most of the apparent benefits linked to the use of CBD involve products that are ingested (or vaped). Topical CBD products usually can’t penetrate through the layers of the skin, preventing them from reaching the bloodstream and the ECS receptors in the brain or body. That means many of cannabidiol’s reported benefits can’t be delivered by CBD topicals.

Even so, cannabidiol works in essentially the same way when it’s applied externally.

All About CBD Topical Products

Almost every form of skincare and beauty product found on the shelves of shops and sold online is now also available as a CBD product. There are CBD creams, lotions, ointments, balms, roll-ons, moisturizers, and even bath bombs. Here’s a look at what’s in them and how they work.

CBD Topical Products: Ingredients

CBD topicals are basically the same topical products that have been available for years. They’ve simply been infused with cannabidiol sourced from hemp.

In most cases, they’re infused with CBD oil, a combination of CBD and a so-called carrier oil like MCT oil, coconut oil, hempseed oil, or olive oil. Cannabidiol isn’t absorbed well by the body, so the carrier helps increase CBD’s bioavailability.

The vast majority of topical offerings also contain a combination of other health and wellness supplements, topical pain relievers, and/or hydrating and moisturizing ingredients. Wolfsbane, MSM, menthol, lidocaine, aloe vera, shea butter, and tea tree oil are just some of the other ingredients found in topical CBD products, chosen to help with the products’ intended uses.

CBD Topical Products: How They Work

Cannabidiol is the unique ingredient common to all CBD topicals. Once applied to the skin, the CBD finds and interacts with the ECS receptors located there — and most are CB2 receptors, ideal for the natural behavior and activity of cannabidiol.

Some of the functions governed by surface-level CB2 receptors are the production and growth of skin cells, the production of hair follicles and hair growth, and the production of the oily sebum that keeps skin moisturized. All of those functions are crucial for skin health, which is one reason that CBD creams and other topical products have become so popular.

Another reason is cannabidiol’s apparent ability to ease chronic pain. Research has shown that cannabidiol may reduce pain caused by inflammation and auto-immune diseases like arthritis. Those are among the most common forms of skin, nerve, muscle, and joint pains experienced at or just below skin level, where topical CBD creams and products are most effective.

There are other apparent benefits of topical CBD use as well. They include the easing of acne, psoriasis, eczema, and similar skin conditions caused by inflammation or immunity problems or by the overproduction of sebum, as well as the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles — all of which are governed by the skin’s CB2 receptors.

CBD isn’t prescribed for any of these issues. In fact, it’s not prescribed for any medical issues except for several types of childhood epilepsy; regulatory agencies worldwide aren’t yet convinced of cannabidiol’s efficacy. However, CBD topical products are easy to find and legally purchase, and sales of CBD creams and similar products are soaring.

When you decide to give them a try, though, you won’t just have to decide on the form of the product. You’ll also have to choose the type of CBD you want to use.

Types of CBD

The cannabidiol extracted from hemp contains more than just CBD. Other plant compounds come along on the journey: terpenes, flavonoids, and hemp’s other cannabinoids — including the small amount of THC it contains.

As we’ve explained, there’s not enough THC in hemp to make users intoxicated, so there’s no chance that CBD will make users high. But the THC has an important role to play in CBD creams and lotions. All of the plant compounds in extracted CBD, including THC, work together to maximize the cannabidiol’s effectiveness in what’s called an “entourage effect.”

So THC’s presence in topical CBD products is a good thing unless users are allergic to the cannabinoid, their bodies don’t react well to it, or they’re afraid that the THC will trigger a positive result on a cannabis drug test. (That doesn’t happen often, but it’s possible.)

To meet the needs of all consumers, manufacturers offer products containing three different types of CBD:

• Full-spectrum CBD — This is cannabidiol extracted directly from hemp, and it contains the full spectrum of plant compounds found in the plant. They provide the greatest possible entourage effect, making full-spectrum CBD the most effective type of cannabidiol available.
• Broad-spectrum CBD — This is full-spectrum cannabidiol that’s had its THC removed. There’s less of an entourage effect because of THC’s absence, and it might not be suitable for some users because traces of the cannabinoid may remain after processing.
• CBD Isolate — This is full-spectrum cannabidiol that’s had all of its other plant compounds removed, making it pure CBD. Isolate is the least effective of the three types of cannabidiol because there’s no entourage effect, but it contains 0% THC.

Topical products, including CBD cream, are available in full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate versions. They all deliver cannabidiol’s apparent benefits but to varying degrees.

Side Effects of Topical CBD Products

That finally brings us to the issue of CBD topical products’ safety and side effects.

First, all reputable medical experts say CBD is safe to consume and use. The approval of cannabidiol products for sale in Western nations essentially stemmed from a World Health Organization (WHO) declaration that CBD has no abuse or dependence potential, and that there’s no evidence of public health problems related to the cannabinoid’s use.

No serious side effects have been credibly reported, either. A few stories about users falling seriously ill after consuming CBD have made headlines over the years, but it turns out that they all had taken doses exponentially higher than normal — and at any rate, all of those people fully recovered.

Some rare, minor CBD side effects have been reported; they include dry mouth, tiredness, and gastrointestinal issues. However, they’re usually confined to users who are new to CBD (whose bodies aren’t yet accustomed to it), those who take extremely high doses, or those who use very high doses daily. The vast majority of CBD users experience no side effects whatsoever.

It’s important to understand, though, that the side effects we’ve mentioned occur after consuming products containing cannabidiol, not applying it to the skin. There are no indications that they’re commonly associated with the use of CBD cream or other topical products.

The American Academy of Dermatology has issued a statement on the subject of CBD topical use, and the only side effect mentioned is the possible development of contact dermatitis that may cause redness or irritation, itchy or dry skin, or rash. Crucially, though, they add that these effects can be triggered by any skin cream or lotion, not just ones containing CBD.

In other words, the possible negative effects of using CBD cream are no different than those that people might experience when using a cream that doesn’t contain cannabidiol. But there are a few final cautions to be aware of.

CBD can interact with some commonly-used prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, and may not be suitable for use for patients with kidney disease, liver disease, or a few other medical issues. It’s a smart idea to check with your doctor or another healthcare professional for their opinion before trying or using any CBD products.

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