It is slowly becoming a leading neuroactive component in skin care products due to its many benefits, which range from improving stress and sleep to stimulating cell growth, making it an ideal component for skin care. It has also been tested as a treatment for various skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis.
"Recent results suggest that, due to the combined lipostatic, antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects,
CBD has the potential to be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of acne.
NEUROCOSMETICS, WHY NOW?
Neuroscience has gained popularity in the media over the past decade.
One of the main reasons appears to be increased stress levels (measured by the percentage of people experiencing stress-related emotions such as anxiety, sadness or anger).
In the APA 2021 study, 8 out of 10 Americans experienced stress-related emotions in the past 30 days.
Increasing political polarization, climate change concerns, and economic volatility are the causes of rising stress levels in developing countries.
Add to that Covid 19, and 2021 saw huge increases in perceived stress levels (as cited by the American Psychological Association).
The emergence of social media and the increase in screen time has put additional strain on overworked nervous systems, negatively impacting our sleep patterns.
THE CULPRITS OF STRESS
So what do stress and sleep have to do with cosmetics?
Stress causes a chemical response in your body, including the release of cortisol, which has been shown to have a significant impact on neurodegradation and skin condition. Stress-induced skin hyperinnervation has been shown to be directly related to inflammation and skin reactivity to stress. This can lead to the development of skin conditions such as psoriasis or acne, but more importantly it can make their treatment more difficult.
Wound and microplaque healing in the skin is also affected by increased stress levels in all 3 phases: inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Review Corticosteroids and wound healing: clinical considerations in the perioperative period.
Beyond the acute stress caused by individual events, chronic stress has also been shown to have strong degrading effects on the skin. It suppresses immunoprotection, increases susceptibility to infections and exacerbates certain allergic and inflammatory diseases.
By exploring the studied biochemical interactions between our stress response and the condition of the skin, it becomes clear that proper emotional balance, also achieved through topical and/or consumable cosmetics, can have an indirect impact on the overall health and quality of the skin, as well as on the fight against skin aging.
As an energy consumer, the brain is the most expensive organ we carry with us," said Dr. Marcus Raichle of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. This is because the brain accounts for only 2% of a person's total body weight, yet consumes 20% of the body's total energy, which severely limits the skin's energy needs, especially with age and under conditions of chronic stress, and potentially allows brain-skin connections to be negatively affected.
Today, the link between the brain and the skin is not yet demonstrated and popularized by the traditional cosmetic industry, and cosmetic effects are mainly treated with ingredients, both natural and synthetic, that act locally rather than potentially impacting the nervous system to activate other benefits through biochemical messages between the brain and the skin.
Some consumers are still hesitant to try consumable neuroactive ingredients and turn to topical products, which offer a smooth entry into this group of compounds like cannabidiol.
