Do you feel like stress could be the reason behind your acne?
It's not uncommon.
Stress can be that hidden acne trigger, causing painful cystic acne (especially on your chin), even when you are doing everything else right.
Not to mention the other negative impacts stress has on our lives, and it can be so hard to find a way out!
Truth be told, some of us are also more easily agitated and need help coping with stressful situations besides the usual meditation, breathing techniques or yoga sessions.
Luckily, there are some natural remedies, mainly adaptogens like ashwagandha, that can help us cope with stress. However, there is nothing I know about that treats both stress, anxiety, and acne.
Except for CBD oil.
THE BENEFITS OF A HIGH-QUALITY CBD OIL
CBD oil is an oil rich in cannabinoids, extracted from hemp plants. Not to be confused with cannabis oil, which has substantial amounts of psychoactive substance THC (not CBD).
CBD oil is not psychoactive, so it can't get you high and is legal in most countries.
Also, it is not the same as regular hemp oil, because CBD oil has a high concentration of the active substances (cannabinoids), which hemp oil doesn't (only in trace amounts). To make CBD oil, one needs a supercritical CO2 extraction method, as explained here.
Cannabinoids are fat-soluble molecules that bind to the cannabinoid receptors in our body. This means that they can communicate with our cells, and pass on a certain message.
In the skin, they slow down the production of sebum, which leads to less oily skin and less acne.
Here is what a researcher on cannabinoids and acne, Tamas Biro, Ph.D., says about a cannabinoid-rich extract:
In our model system, it was much more efficient than the Vitamin A derivatives like Accutane.
CBD oil is also reported by many users for its benefit to calm down the nervous system, and soothe the anxiety attacks.
Needless to say, I was pretty excited to introduce this to my sister Anja, who could really use some help with stress management and clearing up the last remnants of her hormonal chin acne.
That's when she decided to give it a try and report her results!
In fact, right after I announced this on my social media, I got a couple of messages from women who have tried CBD oil successfully.
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CBD OIL FOR ANXIETY ATTACKS AND ACNE – A READER'S SUCCESS STORY
The following is the letter I got from one of my readers, who kindly agreed to publish it:
“Hello! I was really curious when I saw Sara’s post about her sister trying CBD! I have been using it for months and I haven’t heard many other people talking about it, so I was excited to see her post! I thought I’d share my experience with CBD.
I have struggled with acne/cystic acne for about 7 years now (I started getting acne around 11 or 12) I have also had anxiety and panic attacks for about the same amount of time. I started using CBD oil 5 months ago and I have noticed huge improvements in both my anxiety and my acne. In terms of acne, I notice a lot less cystic acne than I had before.
I still have the odd cystic breakout when I eat too much of the wrong thing, but for the most part my acne is no longer huge cysts on my face, which is a huge improvement for me! When I do breakout, especially cystic breakouts, it heals much faster than it did before. I haven’t noticed much difference in my oil production, but I didn’t have very oily skin to begin with. My pores are smaller though, so perhaps it has changed/normalized my oil production in some way.
In terms of anxiety, it helps with my general anxiety. I stay much more relaxed and able to function more normally. On a daily basis this really relieves a lot of stress…
Some other things I’ve noticed are that I have far fewer headaches and body pains. I also use a CBD cream on any muscle aches and on my stomach during that time of the month and it significantly improves those pains! I will definitely be continuing my use of CBD and I’m thankful for the improvements I’ve seen and felt!“ ~ Alexys B.
Given how much I loved the skincare products from Hemptouch, I contacted them about this little CBD oil experiment, and they kindly gifted her a bottle to try out and report her honest results.
This is the summary of how she felt during the 21 days of taking the CBD oil.
ANJA'S 21-DAY EXPERIMENT WITH CBD OIL – THE RESULTS
Anja used the 5% CBD oil (this one here), but there are also other concentrations you can get. She took about 5 drops under the tongue every morning and evening.
1. Feeling calm
Definitely feeling less stressed in everyday situations. This started already after 3 days of taking the oil. Ever since then, she was much better at looking at a stressful situation from a bit of a distance and finding a solution, instead of getting stressed.
I can totally testify to this, because during a few days, I was helping her apply for her dream job, and the problems were just popping up all the time. Missing papers, missing deadlines…but she just remained calm and focused.
︎ 2. Less clumsy
This one was a bit surprising, but I guess it makes sense because she reports that she is not rushing with things. Instead, she takes her time to do even the simple everyday things, with more focus and precision.
3. Waking up more easily
Another nice surprise! After about two weeks, Anja started to wake up with more ease (she is definitely not a morning person!), and just take on the tasks of the day without too much struggle to properly wake up.
4. Less redness and breakouts
While she doesn't have that much acne anymore, there was still some redness left, which quickly faded away. This may also be due to the Calming Face Cream she has been using, in addition to the CBD oil.
The light in the above pictures is not the same, but the redness and one active breakout are definitely gone!
3 weeks is a bit short amount of time to fade hyperpigmentation still present on the left side of her chin, but there are no active breakouts.
By the end of the experiment, she started to feel a bit stressed again for a few days. Not surprisingly, it was PMS, which always hits hard. Nothing beats those hormones!
However, the dose she was taking was rather small (5 drops in the morning and evening), and increasing it may help with this, too. It is actually ok to take about 20 drops twice a day.
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WEEK-BY-WEEK BREAKDOWN
Week 1.
On day 3 of taking the oil, I actually could more clearly feel some of the calming CBD oil effects. I felt somehow just more in the flow and focused. My skin looks the same, but it's still early to say.
The oil is taken orally, 5-20 drops morning and evening under the tongue.
I started taking 5 drops both in the morning and in the evening. It was enough for me to feel the effects. Also, I got used to the flavor actually, so I even like it now!:)
I thought the oil would make me sleepy or something like that, but no, it just makes you act calmer and more reasonable to everything that happens throughout the day (this is huge for me!).
Week 2.
After more than one week, I can more clearly feel the calming effects.
I am a bit hyperactive person in general, easily stressed, and can get angry pretty quickly sometimes, but I have to say that this oil really helps me. I manage to stay calm when I would normally react more.
Of course, the days and situations are different, and things happen (sometimes nothing can save you from a nervous breakdown, haha), but I really feel that the oil has been helping me.
Also, the redness of my skin has been improving, it definitely looks more calm and hydrated (yes!!).
By Sara: Yesterday, we were in touch the entire time, as she was applying for her dream job, and I was helping with the application. Of course, we found out late that the deadline was yesterday (why, oh, why??), and that we still needed to collect some papers, and they were in her apartment in Zagreb, then sending keys to a friend by bus, etc. etc.
Long story short, she remained happy and calm the entire time, up to the point when I was like, Where is my REAL sister, and who kidnapped her?? I mean, normally, she would have freaked out, given up on the entire thing, and just be super stressed out.
At one point she told me, you know, Sara, I think this is working for me. I am also seriously so happy for her! To top it all off, her skin is looking already much better since last week, and the redness has gone down so much!
Week 3.
Things are going well! I just wanted to write something I noticed in the past few days: I am waking up more easily (I am not really a morning person!).
Might not seem much, but I definitely notice it now. Also, I’ve noticed recently is how less clumsy I have become since starting CBD oil.
This was at first surprising to me, but as the days go by, it is more obvious. I am an athletic type, but I get really clumsy when doing just the simplest tasks.
Now, I get much more patient when doing different things, but also when communicating with other people. I just take my time instead of rushing so much always. I simply take more time to think about the next moves, unconsciously, of course.
Also, my skin is looking better and better! I don't know which one helps more, CBD oil or the cream, but the redness is practically gone, there is only a bit of hyperpigmentation left.
After exactly 21 days, my bottle was empty! I have actually already ordered a new bottle, and it arrived with a collection of samples, wooho!
I hope that this story inspired you, in case you are in the same situation, and looking for something that could help with stress management and acne. And I sincerely hope it works for you, too!
In radiant skin health,
Sara and Anja
Questions! Have you tried CBD oil? What effects did you notice, if any?
P.S. You can shop all Hemptouch products here (affiliate link), they ship worldwide.
Much love,
Sara
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