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It's no secret that CBD oil has infiltrated the beauty space. From lip balms [1] to bath bombs [2], the cannabis extract helps its devotees de-stress [3] and chill out. According to dermatologist Rachel Nazarian [4], MD, of Schweiger Dermatology Group, CBD "interacts with pain receptions in skin and has an anti-inflammatory effect." Because of that, some people who suffer from irritating skin conditions such as psoriasis or acne slather it on.
Sounds gucci, but what happens when you smoke weed? More specifically: can you toke your way to clear skin? (Asking for a friend).
In short: probably not. "There are no known skin benefits to smoking weed," Dr. Nazarian said. The womps continue: "Cannabis has reports of causing a constriction of blood vessels with consumption or smoking, which would make it harmful for skin by decreasing blood flow, killing off skin cells, and even forming ulcers." On the flip side, Dr. Nazarian says she is a big fan of topical CBD and prescribes it to patients with burns, eczema, and poison ivy.
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Josh Zeichner [5], MD, a dermatologist and the Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, has a slightly different opinion: "I'm not telling people to go out and smoke pot all day, but cannabinoid receptors such as THC have anti-inflammatory properties," he said. As the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, THC is what creates the high you feel. Because of that, possession of a THC-infused product is a no-no in states where weed isn't legalised, or if you don't have a med card.
Before you take that as a reason to go light up, consider what Dr. Mona Gohara [6] of Yale New Haven Hospital has to say about smoking in general: "Your lifestyle habits might change after you smoke pot, and that can adversely affect your skin," she said. "You might smoke and then go eat lots of junk food, or not get enough sleep. Both of those factors can hurt your skin's health."
