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How to Use CBD on Eczema to Help Manage Your Symptoms

How to Use CBD on Eczema to Help Manage Your Symptoms
If you, like so many of us, have dealt with eczema, you know the discomfort and frustration that dry, itchy, inflamed skin can cause.
Luckily, hemp derived CBD is chock-full of powerful anti-inflammatories and moisturizers—and that makes it an effective choice for some people battling  topical skin conditions.
Read on to see how to use CBD on eczema to help manage your symptoms.           

What is eczema?

According to the National Eczema Association, “Eczema is the name for a group of conditions that cause the skin to become itchy, inflamed, and red in lighter skin tones or brown, purple, gray or ashen in darker skin tones. Eczema is very common. In fact, more than 31 million Americans have some form of eczema.” 


This non-contagious skin condition is thought to begin when an interior or exterior trigger kicks the immune system into high gear, producing inflammation. This inflammation results in the most common types of eczema, which are:


Atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, neurodermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and stasis dermatitis. (Whew!) Each form of eczema can have a unique set of triggers that cause a flare up, and it’s possible to experience different types of eczema on different parts of your body. 

 

What causes eczema?

Unfortunately, the cause of eczema is still a bit of a mystery. Researchers believe that those who develop eczema do so due to a combination of genetic and environmental triggers. These triggers can range anywhere from diet or allergies to weather and stress, hormones, foods, and even certain fabrics. 

When eczema flares up, it may feel impossible to resist the urge to scratch. In fact, some people with eczema may scratch affected areas in their sleep. Scratching eczema can exacerbate the body’s immune response, making the area even redder and more inflamed. 

 

How to use CBD to help eczema symptoms 

While there is no known cure for eczema at this time, managing it may be as easy as C-B-D. 

This hemp-derived cannabinoid, known as cannabidiol, works within our body’s endocannabinoid system—responsible for crucial processes such as immune response, memory, metabolism, and more— to help bring the body to a state of balance, or homeostasis.

But that’s not all it does. CBD is an effective anti-inflammatory, working both topically and internally to help soothe inflammation; when used as a CBD oil, it can also provide moisturizing benefits. 

“For many customers who experience the physical manifestations of eczema, CBD has been a lifeline,” says Sarah Mirsini, founder of MASK CBD Skincare.

“Rather than perpetuate the cycle of flare-topical steroids-flare, some eczema sufferers are reaching for CBD to help calm their skin, using it topically, taking it internally, or a mix of the two. The results have kept them coming back for more.”

But Mirsini cautions that as with all health concerns, speaking to a doctor should always be a first line of defense. “Of course, you should always talk to your doctor to obtain a professional diagnosis,” she says. “Be candid with your doctor and ask them about CBD and your type of eczema. You may be surprised at how well your skin responds to using CBD for your flare ups.” 

 

What kind of CBD may work on eczema? 

For some, using CBD to help relieve the itchiness, inflammation, and redness associated with eczema is a trial and error exercise.

But it’s helpful to remember that when you take full spectrum CBD orally, via a tincture or an edible, for instance, it will work system wide within your body to address inflammation within the body, which shows up on the skin. These options may also help you feel less anxious or stressed—both possible triggers for an eczema flare. 

But for acute relief, you may find that rubbing some full spectrum organic CBD lotion on the affected area takes the sting out while moisturizing skin and keeping it soft. 

However you integrate full spectrum CBD into your eczema care, you may be pleasantly surprised at just how well it works to soothe inflammation and soothe your mood.