Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD has been incorporated into a broad range of goods, including skincare formulas and dog treats.
We are going to talk about CBD sunscreen in this guide. Does it function? Is it appropriate to use it in place of conventional sunscreen? If you use cannabis products for medical reasons while residing in the United States, you must obtain a medical marijuana card, which allows you to legally access cannabis products without worrying about facing legal ramifications.
A number of preliminary studies have indicated that CBD can effectively block UV radiation, and numerous anecdotal reports suggest that CBD can prevent sunburn. So is it better to forgo conventional sunscreen in favor of one that contains CBD?
We’ll discuss CBD, sunscreen, CBD’s effectiveness as a UV blocker, and some things to think about before switching products below. If you’re unsure of where to begin using CBD sunscreen, this is the guide for you.
CBD Sunscreen: Exploring the Fundamentals
Before discussing the combination, let’s define CBD and sunscreen separately to better understand how they function.
What is CBD?
One of the two main cannabinoids present in different Cannabis sativa plant strains is CBD. In contrast to its main counterpart, THC, CBD:
● Isn’t it stimulating? You won’t get high from consuming or inhaling CBD, which is one of the compound’s most alluring qualities for those who want to avoid getting wasted.
● Is federal law legal? Anybody over the age of 18 is now able to legally grow, process, sell, possess, and use CBD thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. Following the bill’s passage, producers flooded the market with CBD products, many of which have proven helpful to consumers hoping to experience the drug’s therapeutic effects.
● CBD is already a favorite in the beauty industry: CBD beauty products are becoming more and more popular among cosmetic enthusiasts, while topical CBD pain relief products are popular among those who suffer from acute or chronic pain. CBD is becoming more and more prevalent in beauty products, in part because of its anti-inflammatory qualities.
What is sunscreen?
Sunscreen refers to a broad range of compositions intended to protect skin from UV radiation, or the sun’s rays.
Sunscreen’s ingredients either chemically absorb UV rays or physically block them.
Skin cells are shielded by this blocking mechanism from deterioration, aging, and even the growth of cancerous cells.
However, not all sunscreens are made equal, so when selecting a sunscreen product, keep an eye out for these two important qualities:
● Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating: The SPF rating indicates the number of UVB (ultraviolet B) rays that a sunscreen product blocks. In general, higher is preferable; however, cancer specialists advise SPF 30 products to maximize sun protection as well as the physical characteristics of a sunscreen formula.
● Mechanism of action: sunscreens contain chemical blockers, physical blockers, or both. How exactly a sunscreen blocks UV rays depends on its active ingredients.
Now let’s explore the two broad classifications of sunscreens.
Mineral Sunscreens
Mineral sunscreens, also referred to as “physical sunscreens,” envelop your skin in a shield of protection from UV radiation. Only two mineral sunscreen active ingredients are currently permitted in the US for UV protection:
● Titanium dioxide
● Zinc oxide
Mineral-based sunscreens block UV rays, so they don’t penetrate your skin and cause damage. Because of their active ingredients, mineral sunscreens can leave your skin with a white cast or a pale sheen. However, skin-tinting products and other technologies can prevent this white cast in today’s beauty industry.
Chemical Sunscreens
The active ingredients in chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, create a chemical reaction that prevents skin damage by converting UV rays into heat.
In the US, a number of active ingredients are currently permitted for use in chemical sunscreens:
● Aminobenzoic acid
● Avobenzone
● Cinoxate
● Dioxybenzone
● Homosalate
● Meradimate
● Octocrylene
● Octinoxate
● Octisalate
● Oxybenzone
● Padimate O
● Ensulizole
● Silisobenzone
● Trolamine salicylate
So which sunscreen is better, chemical or mineral?
Experts in cancer think both of them work well. Sunscreens made of minerals or chemicals have both demonstrated clinical efficacy in preventing UV radiation. Therefore, experts on skin cancer advise applying the sunscreen of your choice in a consistent and comprehensive manner.
This is more important than choosing a particular type. The majority of sunscreens that are readily available combine chemical and mineral UV blockers. There are sunscreens that are only mineral or chemical-based, but they’re not as common on pharmacy shelves.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and both have been shown in numerous clinical trials to prevent UV exposure that can cause skin cancer.
What is CBD sunscreen?
Since CBD has become widely available, many manufacturers have started incorporating it into their sunscreen formulas. A few essential elements are present in the majority of products on the market:
● Broad-, full-, or narrow-spectrum isolates of CBD
● A mineral or physical UV blocker (or several varieties of each)
● Moisturizing components (a lotion, cream, or ointment base, for example)
It’s crucial to remember that the majority of CBD sunscreens are still physical, chemical, or hybrid sunscreens with CBD added because they contain both CBD and conventional UV-blocking ingredients.
These products can be found online or in specialty beauty stores, even though they aren’t currently widely accessible on drugstore shelves.
Does CBD sunscreen work?
Does CBD sunscreen genuinely protect against UV rays? Indeed, and for the following two reasons:
● Traditional sunscreen ingredients are present in many CBD sunscreens on the market today. Mineral and/or physical UV blockers, such as zinc oxide, oxybenzone, and other compounds, are still present in these products. Any CBD sunscreen that contains these ingredients is likely to work because they have repeatedly been demonstrated to prevent UV rays from penetrating the skin, thereby lowering the risk of developing skin cancer.
● Early research on CBD’s ability to block UV rays on its own is encouraging; however, the effectiveness of CBD as a UV blocker has only been partially studied. Scientists are still unsure of the precise mechanism and level of effectiveness by which CBD blocks UV radiation.
Although further research is necessary to fully understand CBD’s precise UV protection mechanism, preliminary findings and anecdotal evidence point to CBD being a safe and useful supplement to conventional sunscreens.
It’s always advisable to speak with an MMJ doctor before beginning to use medicinal cannabis products. Your physician will advise you on safe usage practices and state laws.
