BENEFITS OF HEMP OIL FOR SKIN

Hemp oil is extracted from cold-pressing hemp seeds. Hemp oil is clear green, unrefined, and has a nutty flavor. It is very different from cannabidiol (CBD) oil since it is extracted from the cannabis plant.

Unlike CBD, which is made from hemp flowers, hemp seed oil is made from hemp seed, and it does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive component that brings about the high effect. Hemp oil has a lot of benefits, and improving skin health is one of them. The vitamins in the oil and its moisturizing qualities provide the skin with many benefits.

What Is Hemp Seed Oil?

Hemp oil is extracted from hemp, a type of cannabis plant just like marijuana drug. It doesn’t contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component that produces a high effect. Instead of THC, it contains CBD, a chemical that treats several conditions, including anxiety and epilepsy. Tabassum & Hamdani (2014) established that hemp oil has become popular for treating various conditions, including stress and skin conditions. It also contains properties that reduce illnesses such as heart disease. Hemp oil also reduces body inflammation.

Apart from CBD, hemp oil has massive amounts of omega-5 and omega-3 fats, which are known to be useful.

How Does Hemp Oil Benefit Your Skin?

You can get numerous benefits from hemp oil in whatever way you want to use it. The benefits of hemp oil include:

Helps In the Reduction of Skin Inflammation

Alagawany et al. (2019) stated that omega- 3 such as that found in hemp oil, help reduce inflammation since it acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. It also helps in skin growth by reproducing new cells. Using hemp seed oil helps calm inflammation and skin irritation while at the same time nourishing and moisturizing your skin. When inflammation is left untreated, it can lead to cancer and heart disease.

Helps with Skin Disorders

Since hemp oil has omega-3 and omega -6, it can treat several skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, and lichen planus. It helps improve skin conditions since it has fatty acids such as linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and gamma-linolenic acid. These three fatty acids allow hemp seed oil to treat skin conditions. It also helps strengthen your skin, enabling it to resist infections better.

It Acts as an Anti-Bacterial Agent

The anti-bacterial properties found in hemp oil have helped inhibit bacterial activities, for example, that of Staphylococcus aureus. According to Siudem et al. (2019), Staphylococcus aureus is a very dangerous bacteria that cause skin infections and pneumonia).

Pain Relief

Since hemp seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties, it can reduce pain. If you are experiencing pain, Palmieri et al. (2017) recommended applying help oil to the affected area for natural pain relief.

Moderates Oil Production

The good thing about hemp oil is that it can be used for all skin types. This is because it moisturizes the skin while not clogging skin pores. It helps balance the oils while hydrating especially oily skin.

If you are unaware, dryness can also lead to overproduction of oil in the skin, leading to acne. Using hemp oil will help in preventing dry skin while not clogging pores. In turn, it helps reduce acne caused by excess oils.

Contains Anti-Aging Properties

Apart from soothing skin, hemp oil contains anti-aging properties. Hemp oil can prevent the signs of skin aging from developing and reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

The oleic acid and linoleic acid present in hemp oil cannot be produced in the body; hence, they are used in producing hemp oil. They are very important in your skin's health and anti-aging sector.

Risks of Using Hemp Oil

Even though henna and marijuana come from the cannabis plant, hemp has no THC. Hence making it legal in the U.S since it will not make get the user impaired. This means that it is very safe to use it topically. However, some things to note before deciding to use hemp oil. Some of its potential risks include:

Skin Irritation

If you are allergic to CBD, do not use hemp oil. The reason is hemp oil contains CBD, which may lead to skin irritation. This is why it is advised you should first start using it in very small amounts to see how your skin reacts to hemp oil. If you notice changes, Horth et al. (2017) recommended avoiding the product completely.

How to Use Hemp Oil

It would be best if you first put it directly to the skin. Doing so helps you if you are experiencing skin irritation or dry skin.

• Before using hemp oil, first, perform a patch test to find out how it reacts with your skin:
• Wash, then dry a small part of your arm. It would be best to try this on your upper arm, mostly on the elbow crook.
• Put on a small amount of hemp oil.
• Cover that spot using a bandage and let it sit for 24 hours. Be careful not to wet the bandage.
• If you notice skin redness, itching, or any other unwanted reaction, you should not use it because you are sensitive to the oil. If you have such a reaction, remove the bandage at that time and wash that area using soap and water.
• If you do not notice any reaction, the oil is safe for your skin.
• If you are using the oil to treat acne, apply it to your already clean skin, let it sit there for around one to two minutes, and then wash it with warm water.

Conclusion

When applied topically, hemp seed oil gives your skin a lot of benefits; hence you should take advantage of these benefits. Hemp oil is safe for many people since it helps moisturize your skin from the inside. Before starting your day, use 1/2 teaspoons of hemp oil if you are a beginner; then, you can add the dosage as days go by.

References

Alagawany, M., Elnesr, S. S., Farag, M. R., Abd El-Hack, M. E., Khafaga, A. F., Taha, A. E., ... & Dhama, K. (2019). Omega-3 And Omega-6 Fatty Acids In Poultry Nutrition: Effect On Production Performance And Health. Animals, 9(8), 573.

Horth, R. Z., Crouch, B., Horowitz, B. Z., Prebish, A., Slawson, M., Mcnair, J., ... & Dunn, A. (2018). Notes From The Field: Acute Poisonings From A Synthetic Cannabinoid Sold As Cannabidiol—Utah, 2017–2018. Morbidity And Mortality Weekly Report, 67(20), 587.

Palmieri, B., Laurino, C., & Vadala, M. (2017). Short-Term Efficacy Of CBD-Enriched Hemp Oil In Girls With Dysautonomic Syndrome After Human Papillomavirus Vaccination. The Israel Medical Association Journal: IMAJ, 19(2), 79-84.

Siudem, P., Wawer, I., & Paradowska, K. (2019). Rapid Evaluation Of Edible Hemp Oil Quality Using NMR And FT-IR Spectroscopy. Journal Of Molecular Structure, 1177, 204-208.

Tabassum, N., & Hamdani, M. (2014). Plants Used To Treat Skin Diseases. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 8(15), 52.