Section : Articles

Cannabis to treat Acne ?

  • The authors sought to measure the effects of Cannabis sativa, (-)-cannabidiol (CBD) (a recreational drug)
  • Results of the study show that: administration of CBD to cultured human sebocytes (cells that secrete sebum) and human skin organ culture inhibited the lipogenic actions of various compounds, including including testosterone.
  • CBD suppresses sebocyte proliferation via the activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid-4 (TRPV4) ion channels resulting ultimately in the downregulation of nuclear receptor interacting protein-1 (NRIP1), which influences glucose and lipid metabolism, thereby inhibiting sebocyte lipogenesis
  • Conclusion: CBD is shown here to inhibit sebum production
  • Comment: this an interesting in vitro study showing the potential beneficial effect of Cannabis in Acne Vulgaris. However the study is limited to human cell cultures and it remains to be seen if the effects are applicable in vivo in animals and in humans.

Disclaimer: the comments suggest that the contributors do not solicit the use of this substance in the treatment of Acne Vulgaris.

Contributors

Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Article selection: Prof Dr Jean-Hilaire Saurat – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Source of information: Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes. Oláh A, Tóth BI, Borbíró I, Sugawara K, Szöllõsi AG, Czifra G, Pál B, Ambrus L, Kloepper J, Camera E, Ludovici M, Picardo M, Voets T, Zouboulis CC, Paus R, Bíró T.