Topicals are...topical
With the rapid growth of the cannabis industry, it is very easy to get bogged down and confused with all the new product types and overemphasis on THC content.
We here at High North Education are dedicated to providing information about the breadth and diverse range of offerings that the regulated industry offers on both the recreational and medical level. Everybody knows about the things that zoot you into the stratosphere - we’ve got your dried flower, infused flower, hash, live resin, live rosin, vape carts, you name it.
I left edibles out because a federal 10 mg hard cap won’t be sending many people into orbit.
But there’s a full spectrum of cannabis products out there, and more cannabinoids out there than just THC.
However, if we were to discuss all of them, we’d probably be here until the heat death of the universe, so because none of us have that much free time, I’m going to stick to one.
And just for fun, I’m going to pick one I’ll admit that I, myself, don’t know too much about.
Topicals. CBD Topicals.
I think we all have a general idea of what a topical is. You put it on your skin, and ostensibly, it’s going to do a thing. It could be for pain relief from something like Voltaren, or part of your skincare routine, like moisturizer (I wouldn’t know, my complexion is as cracked and brittle as Toronto roads after winter).
“Why would I take a CBD topical? Will it get me high?”
Nah.
CBD, or Cannabidiol if you want to be formal, is a non-psychotropic compound. That means you won’t be eating an entire pack of cookies at 4 am, giggling to yourself while contemplating the fact that you have fingers, or marveling at just how soft your cat’s fur is.
“So why would I take it if it won’t get me high? Isn’t the point to get high?”
While cannabis is often taken for recreational purposes, and is typically known for those purposes and the psychoactive effects in this day and age, it’s not the only effect that it has.
(Retrieved from History of Marijuana Regulation in the United States on 2023-09-29)
After all, only a century ago, it was possible to pick this up at your local American pharmacy.
”Alright. So…how does this work? Does it work?”
I’ll be honest with you, dear reader - yes and no. Yes, in the sense that there is literature to support the position that topicals do have an effect. But also no, in the sense that I wouldn’t be able to tell you if what affects me would have the same effect on you, as cannabis acts on our biochemistry, and each of the 7 billion souls on this floating rock we call home will have a different biochemistry. What might send me to the moon might leave you more disappointed than anyone who saw the Game of Thrones finale.
This topic is like an onion. It has layers. And when it comes to us, our first layer is the skin.
So what cannabinoids actually act on is the Endocannabinoid System, or ECS for short. It’s a series of lipids and receptors in the brain and both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Within this system, there are two main receptors, CB1 (cannabinoid type 1 receptor) and CB2 (cannabinoid type 2 receptor). The ECS accepts both endogenous cannabinoids (our body makes these itself) and phytocannabinoids (plant-based).
In the context of one’s skin, specifically, CB1 receptors can be found within hair follicles, sensory neurons, immune cells, sebaceous glands, and keratinocytes. Activating CB1 receptors in the skin decreases the rate of inflammation on the outermost layer of skin, and protects the skin barrier.
CB2 receptors in skin can be found in sensory neurons, immune cells, sebaceous glands, and keratinocytes. Activating CB2 receptors in skin inhibits the rate of inflammation in the skin.
“....What?”
Okay, so I should probably give a few examples of how this might help you, what it might help with, and how slapping a cream on your skin can reduce your physical pain, even if it can’t fix the metaphysical pain of existence.
When a topical is applied to the skin, the substance penetrates the outer layer and permeates through to the other layers of the skin through a process known as passive diffusion. What that means is that the molecules will move from an area of higher concentration to that of lower concentration. In the case of a CBD topical, the skin would have the lower concentration, and the topical itself would have the higher concentration. So the CBD would diffuse from the topical (high concentration area) to the skin (low concentration area).
I liken it to two separate lines to two bathrooms. One long, one short. When the people in the really long line see the shorter line, the concentration of people in the long line will swap over, until both lines are equally as long. That’s a basic example of passive diffusion.
Example Conditions, Disorders and Research:
Acne/Rosacea:
Expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors well-documented in human skin
During a small, single-blind split-face study, a topical containing 3% Cannabis Seed extract was applied to the face of patients, twice daily. Found to be efficient in reducing sebum production (skin oils) and erythema (abnormal redness of skin, mucous membranes) in contrast to vehicle-treated cohort.
Alopecia, hirsutism, hypertrichosis
Data suggests Cannabinoid dysregulation involved in development of alopecia areata.
CB1 receptor agonists found to be of significant benefit when treating hirsutism and hypertrichosis.
CB1 receptor agonists found to treat alopecia areata.
Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma
CBD extracts found to be beneficial in treating non-melanoma skin cancers via apoptosis, inhibiting tumour angiogenesis (formation of blood vessels), and halting cell cycle.
Other cannabinoids found to have therapeutic effect on melanomas, through arresting cell cycles, apoptosis, and other less-known mechanisms.
Dermatitis
During studies, topical application of CB1 receptor agonists was shown to significantly accelerate recovery of epidermal barrier function in acutely abrogated skin.
Anti-inflammatory activities in both acute and chronic irritation applications observed.
Further investigations should be performed to obtain better understanding of other signaling pathways.
Current results suggest CB1 agonist topical treatment would be beneficial in treating acute and chronic inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and psoriasis.
Topical analgesic properties
Endogenous cannabinoids (self-synthesized) as well as synthetic cannabinoids showed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects during studies.
Antimicrobial effects
CBD among the five major cannabinoids found to show potent activity against a variety of MRSA strains of current clinical relevance.
Everything referenced previously only scratches the surface of the emerging field of cannabis research, and a greater understanding of what its future capabilities may encompass.
Resources:
Cannabidiol (CBD): What we know and what we don't - Harvard Health
Topical Use of Cannabis sativa L. Biochemicals
