Can CBD Help Alopecia?
Can CBD Help Alopecia?
Alopecia is hair loss. Read this article to know what alopecia is and what CBD is. You will also know more about the benefits of CBD for alopecia treatment and how to buy the best CBD for alopecia.
CBD continues to be popular among users, especially since it is legal in many countries. Industries continue to manufacture CBD products in the form that users desire. Therefore, CBD products are available as topicals, inhalants, edibles, and sublingual, meaning that the users are spoilt for choice. While CBD is known for its therapeutic and medicinal benefits, users are curious about what else CBD may do. It is used for skin care and can improve the skin. This article will discuss if, why, and how CBD may help in alopecia.
What Is Alopecia?
Alopecia is an auto-immune condition that leads to hair loss. It is manifested by bald patches on the head caused by various conditions, from old age to medicinal and environmental factors. Hay fever and stress are the most common triggers, and the effect of alopecia may be temporary. Li et al.( 2021) stated that alopecia is also caused by stress.
What Is CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is a chemical element that is present in cannabis. It is popular in many countries as it does not have psychoactive properties. CBD has been popular for centuries for its medicinal value.
The Benefits of CBD for Alopecia Treatment
The simple answer is yes. CBD can help alopecia, depending on the factors that have caused it. Gilhar et al. (2012) stated that identifying the cause of alopecia is important. It will not work if the causes are genetics or aging. However, CBD may be useful if alopecia is caused by stress or poor hair treatment. Below are the benefits of CBD that may be useful in the treatment of alopecia;
As an Anti-Inflammatory and Pain Reliever
Alopecia may be caused by conditions resulting in discomfort, such as an itchy scalp. Some people claim that as they lose hair, they also have to deal with itchiness, discomfort, and pain. CBD is an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever and may be used to manage alopecia.
For Relaxation
Stress is among the factors that cause alopecia. When the person undergoes stress, the physiological activities, such as constricting vessels that occur in the body, may lead to hair loss. Besides, losing hair may be stressful for most people. Sometimes, treating alopecia may involve treating the causes, and CBD may come in handy if stress is identified as the cause. CBD is known for its relaxation benefits.
Pamplona et al. (2018) concluded that CBD is used for therapeutic reasons.
For Managing Insomnia
The symptoms associated with alopecia may keep the patient awake—for instance, an itchy scalp. The hair loss may also be devastating for most patients hence the sleepless nights. CBD is useful because it will help the user sleep by alleviating the factors that cause insomnia, such as stress and inflammation. Moltke & Hindocha (2021) suggested that CBD treats stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
As a Hair Product
CBD is a hair product because of its nutritional value, as it is rich in proteins, vitamins, and fats, which are essential for healthy hair. It may therefore work if the alopecia is caused by malnourishment.
As a Skincare Product
Hair only thrives on healthy skin. Harsh treatment on hair does not damage only the hair but also the skin. Treating the scalp is important in hair care. CBD will therefore help in the following ways;
Regulating the Production of Sebum
While sebum may not directly be related to hair loss, it causes dandruff, leading to hair loss. Peyravian et al. (2022) suggested that CBD regulates the amount of sebum to prevent the overproduction of sebum. Sebum is a substance caused by the body to make the skin glossy. Too much of it will cause flakiness and hence dandruff. The sebum will NOT clog the pores in the scalp. CBD is, therefore, useful, especially as topical or CBD oil, because it nourishes the hair without blocking the pores.
As a Moisturizer
Washing hair frequently dehydrates it and makes it brittle. CBD has moisturizing properties and will rejuvenate the hair by restoring moisture.
How to Buy the Best CBD for Alopecia
The CBD market is unregulated, and buying the best products may challenge new users. To buy the best CBD for alopecia, you ought to look out for the following;
The Reputation of the Company
Some companies have won users' confidence over the years and have built a reputation for themselves. The products may be pricier, but they will be of the best quality compared to those you buy on the backstreet. The products from the company will also have instructions, and the user can access the Certificate of Agency as they have undergone 3rd party testing.
Check the Ingredients and Additives
The fact that you want to treat alopecia is enough reason to be cautious about your product, as it may worsen the condition. Some ingredients and additives may harm the user; therefore, as you purchase them, you could take a patch test on your palm to check if it may cause a reaction on your skin.
Read the Customers' Reviews
Reading the customers' reviews is a useful step for a first-timer who may be wondering about other users' opinions, especially when purchasing a CBD product online. There is no other way to judge if a product is good. Purchase a product that has good reviews.
Seek a Doctor's Advice
Self-medicating CBD may not be a great idea, especially to treat an ailment, as the drug is still undergoing research, and no one knows the long-term effects that it may have on the user. Therefore, anyone seeking to use CBD for alopecia must seek the doctors' advice and guidance so that the doctor may check and confirm that CBD will be safe for the user's health status. While the patient is on a different medication, the doctor may guide on whether CBD can be used alongside the medication. The user is guided on the dosage, and the doctor may be the best person to recommend the best places to buy CBD products.
Conclusion
Losing hair is a cause of concern for most people because it may be a sign of an underlying issue. Sometimes it may be caused by medication, poor hair treatment, genetics, or stress. Therefore, treating alopecia is determined by identifying the root of the problem. In instances where the alopecia is caused by stress CBD is useful in helping the user relax. When alopecia has been caused by hair breakage, CBD can restore the hair to its lustrous state because it has nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, and omega fats essential for healthy hair and scalp. Before buying CBD, the first-time user must seek a doctor's opinion.
References
Gilhar, A., Etzioni, A., & Paus, R. (2012). Alopecia Areata. New England Journal Of Medicine, 366(16), 1515-1525.
Moltke, J., & Hindocha, C. (2021). Reasons For Cannabidiol Use: A Cross-Sectional Study Of CBD Users, Focusing On Self-Perceived Stress, Anxiety, And Sleep Problems. Journal Of Cannabis Research, 3(1), 1-12.
Pamplona, F. A., Da Silva, L. R., & Coan, A. C. (2018). Potential Clinical Benefits Of CBD-Rich Cannabis Extracts Over Purified CBD In Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy: Observational Data Meta-Analysis. Frontiers In Neurology, 759.
Peyravian, N., Deo, S., Daunert, S., & Jimenez, J. J. (2022). The Anti-Inflammatory Effects Of Cannabidiol (CBD) On Acne. Journal Of Inflammation Research, 15, 2795.
Li, Y., Wu, B., Li, X., Zhou, Q., Yang, X., & Li, Y. (2021). Research On Mental Stress Recognition Of Depressive Disorders In Patients With Androgenic Alopecia Based On Machine Learning And Fuzzy K-Means Clustering. Frontiers In Genetics,
