Can CBD Help Treat Psoriasis?
Between 2.3% and 6.6% of the Australian population have psoriasis. At the lower end, that’s around 500,000 people. At the upper end, it’s 1.5 million. If you are suffering, know that you are not alone.
As with other autoimmune diseases, there is currently no definitive cure. This is where CBD skincare products online in Australia can help. We’ll explain the research, how to choose CBD skincare products and CBD oil to help treat psoriasis, and what to look for.
Other Treatments for Psoriasis: Inadequate
First, let’s understand a little more about psoriasis. It’s a chronic autoimmune condition of the skin, and occurs when T-cells attack existing skin cells at an abnormal rate. It causes pain, itching, inflammation –and it doesn’t go away with time.
Current treatments for psoriasis mainly try to control symptoms, and include:
- Steroids to suppress immunity
- Vitamin D and Anthralin to slow down growth of new cells
- Painkillers
- Drugs that prevent itching, like salicylic acid
- Phototherapy
- Treatments to target the immune system, which can cause severe side effects.
None of these have been shown to be particularly effective, and they don’t address the root problem. Some, too, cause more harm than good.
How CBD Products Can Help Treat Psoriasis
The last decade has shown us a lot of research into the endocannabinoid system (ECS), and it’s something we’ve covered before. In summary, though, our ECS regulates various systems in the body, the immune system included. As psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, CBD has been shown to improve the quality of life of people suffering from it and other inflammatory skin conditions. And, unlike other existing treatments, there are no serious negative side effects with CBD.
Is There More Research to Back This Up?
Plenty! In addition to hundreds of reviews we ourselves have received at Down to Earth, there are plenty of studies supporting these claims.
A 2018 study showed that CBD is useful in the treatment of pain and inflammation, and a 2008 study showed CBD can manage hard-to-treat pain. On top of this, other reports have indicated that CBD may be helpful in treating autoimmune conditions. And, finally, a 2016 study showed the CBD was a very promising treatment for psoriasis.
How to Choose CBD Products to Treat Psoriasis
Wherever you buy your CBD skincare products online, or any CBD oil in Australia, it must have an independent laboratory certificate of analysis, like ours do here. You need to ensure you’re getting quality, potency, and purity. But how to choose, you ask?
- Is it CBD Isolate or Full Spectrum CBD?
Full spectrum CBD is what you want buy, because it contains other cannabinoids as well as terpenes. This can be known as the entourage effect, and can be better at treating difficult conditions and improving immune system function.
- How Much CBD Is in the Product?
Not all products are created equal, so not all of them will have high amounts of CBD. Always read the label to find out how much CBD is in the product. Is it 500mg, 1000mg, 2000mg, 3000mg? For something like psoriasis, the higher the better.
How to Use CBD for Psoriasis
There are two things that the research we’ve noted above has shown: a dual approach will work best to treat psoriasis.
First, you want to take CBD oil orally, as this will help regulate your ECS and the underlying issues with your immune system, as well as minimise the pain and inflammation that goes with it.
Second, you will want to use a CBD skincare product online in Australia as this will help treat the external aspect of psoriasis and help minimize the red, itchy skin, and pain and inflammation that goes with it. We have a specially formulated product that many of our customers have said has really helped treat their psoriasis here.
Final Thoughts
Research into CBD and treating psoriasis is ongoing, but initial results are promising. As always, though, you should consult with your medical professional before trying any new treatments.
We hope this blog has proven useful, especially to anyone suffering. Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments below, share your stories, or email us for more help.