CBD for Psoriasis:
Can It Help? November 2024

Psoriasis Overview

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disorder that causes red, itchy marks covered by flaking silvery scales. It most commonly affects the knees, elbows, scalp, and torso.

Health experts believe the main cause of psoriasis is the rapid growth of skin cells resulting from an overactive immune system. ¹ Psoriasis is a chronic condition that goes through cycles of flaring and receding.

Psoriasis Subtypes

There are several types of psoriasis: ²

• Plaque psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris): the most common type of psoriasis (90% of cases), distinguished by raised, red, itchy patches covered in white scales.
• Inverse psoriasis: inflamed, shiny marks that occur in areas where your skin folds, such as the armpits, groin, and inner thighs.
• Guttate Psoriasis: this type of psoriasis is marked by small red spots and tends to affect children and adolescents.
• Pustular Psoriasis: characterized by red, scaly patches with pustules that typically appear on the hands and feet.
• Erythrodermic psoriasis: a short-term condition distinguished by red, inflamed skin on over 90% of the body. It can occur in any type of psoriasis as a result of sunburn, certain medications, and other factors.

Some people also develop psoriatic arthritis, a form of arthritis that occurs in about 20% to 30% of psoriasis sufferers. ³

Psoriasis Symptoms and Pathology

The most common symptom of a psoriasis flare is raised, red, and flaky skin patches. These patches can be small in size, or be spread out over large areas. Psoriasis can also cause soreness, itching, and burning around the spots, pitted nails, and dry, cracked skin that can bleed.

These symptoms worsen during a flare-up, and can disappear completely when psoriasis subsides.

CBD and Psoriasis: Can it Help?

There’s a growing number of test-tube studies suggesting that you can use CBD oil for psoriasis.

One 2007 study looked at the effects of CBD, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and other cannabinoids in the cannabis plant on keratinocytes: the skin cells whose rapid growth — what scientists call proliferation — is the main cause of psoriasis.

All of the cannabinoids reduced keratinocyte proliferation, leading the researchers to conclude that there’s a “potential role for cannabinoids in the treatment of psoriasis.” ⁴

More recently, the authors of a 2017 paper proposed that cannabinoids can help with psoriasis by addressing two key processes involved in its development: inflammation and angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels. ⁵ As it happens, CBD has been demonstrated to reduce inflammation and act as antiangiogenic effects. ⁶ ⁷

Additionally, a 2020 study looked at the effects of CBD on isolated human keratinocytes. The researchers found that cannabidiol affected the cells’ differentiation, leading them to conclude that it could be useful for treating various skin disorders. ⁸

CBD, The Endocannabinoid System, and Your Skin

Researchers theorize CBD’s potential benefits in treating psoriasis may come from its interaction with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS consists of three parts: endocannabinoids produced by our bodies, the enzymes that make and break them down, and cannabinoid receptors (CB1 & CB2).

CBD interacts with the ECS in two major ways:

• Suppressing an enzyme (FAAH) that breaks down the endocannabinoid anandamide, boosting its levels and prolonging its effects ⁹
• Altering the function of the CB1 receptor ¹⁰

Discovered only recently, this important system plays a role in regulating everything from brain function, to immunity, to the maintenance of homeostasis — a state of internal balance. ¹¹

Each component of the ECS can also be found in the skin — your largest organ — with growing evidence that this system may be involved in maintaining skin health. In particular, studies have indicated that the ECS is involved in skin cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and immune responses, all of which can play a role in psoriasis. ¹²

There’s also an indication that malfunction of the ECS may be associated with the development of skin conditions, including psoriasis. ¹³ For example, one study found that people with psoriasis and a related condition, called psoriatic arthritis, had elevated endocannabinoid levels in various blood cells. ¹⁴

The bottom line is that the ECS may play an essential role in skin health and the processes that underlie psoriasis and other skin conditions. Although dosages, timing, and intake methods are yet to be determined for effective treatment, the preliminary evidence suggests that using CBD may positively affect psoriasis and its symptoms through its effect on the ECS.

Anandamide and the Skin

The endocannabinoid anandamide may be particularly interesting when it comes to the role of the ECS on skin health.

One study found that it reduced the release of pro-inflammatory molecules called cytokines by immune cells in the skin, a process that seems to be involved in causing psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions. ¹⁵

There’s also proof that anandamide can reduce itching — one of the symptoms of psoriasis — as demonstrated by a study, where suppressing the FAAH enzyme reduced the itching response in mice. ¹⁶

As we highlighted earlier, CBD has the same effect on this enzyme and can increase anandamide levels. As such, increasing anandamide levels could be a major factor in how CBD may help to treat psoriasis.

A recent 2020 review paper summarizing the results of various studies on the effects of anandamide, THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids, made some noteworthy conclusions. It posited that they all may have an important role in reducing skin inflammation, cell proliferation, fibrosis, pain, and itching — all of which may help with treating psoriasis and other skin conditions. ¹⁷

What Does the Research Say?

There isn’t much human or clinical research looking at the use of CBD for treating psoriasis patients.

One 2019 Italian study examined the effects of a CBD-infused ointment on 20 people with psoriasis, eczema, or scarring as a result of these conditions. The study participants applied the ointment to affected skin areas twice daily for 90 days.

The treatment improved the symptoms and severity of psoriasis and several measures of skin health, such as elasticity and hydration. ¹⁸

The researchers concluded that applying CBD topically is a safe and effective way to improve the quality of life in people with skin disorders. Although these findings are promising, more high-quality studies, especially randomized controlled trials (RCTs) — the gold standard of clinical research — are needed.

How Much CBD Should I Take for Psoriasis?

There isn’t enough research to suggest the ideal CBD dosage for psoriasis. This is especially true when applying CBD through topical treatments, since most studies use CBD capsules or oil.

Besides, CBD dosage can vary depending on genetic factors, the type of product you’re using, and other variables. Your best option is to start by applying the CBD amount recommended by your topical product to the affected skin areas.

If you don’t notice any effects after a few days or weeks, you can raise the dose, making sure to try it for at least a few days before raising it again if needed.

If you’re using a topical product, you can estimate your CBD dose by dividing the total CBD content by the container volume. For example, if a 30 ml cream contains 600 mg of CBD, that’s 20 mg per ml. Next, you can estimate how many ml of the product you’re using to arrive at your estimated CBD dose.

Are There Any Side Effects?

One of the great things about CBD is that it’s a remarkably safe compound. Although it can cause some side effects, they are relatively mild and have only been reported by studies using high dosages. ¹⁹

More importantly, CBD and hemp’s other cannabinoids can only produce side effects when they reach the bloodstream.

When applied topically (i.e. a cream, ointment, or another product), CBD and other cannabinoids are highly unlikely to penetrate deep enough into the skin to reach the blood. Having said that, other ingredients in topical CBD preparations — such as terpenes or fragrances — may cause allergic reactions or other adverse effects in rare cases. ²⁰

CBD For Psoriasis Research is Barely Scratching The Surface

More research is needed to show that CBD or other cannabinoids can relieve psoriasis. In particular, high-quality human studies are lacking, and most of the findings are restricted to test-tube studies.

Nonetheless, the evidence suggests that CBD may help alleviate psoriasis symptoms and address its underlying causes, such as an overactive immune response in the skin and a rapid build-up of keratinocyte cells. Furthermore, plenty of research shows it can help with other inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis and acne.

Given its relative safety — especially when applied topically — CBD represents a promising, natural option for alleviating psoriasis. This is especially true for cases where standard pharmaceutical treatments are ineffective or produce significant side effects.

Still, there is no CBD psoriasis cream available on the market. Therefore, you’ll have to experiment with different CBD creams (or CBD soaps) to find what’s right for you.