There are a number of skin conditions that can be treated by using cannabis. This includes acne, psoriasis and eczema.
The chemical compounds in the cannabis plant called cannabinoids (CNBs) are responsible for most of the therapeutic effects. These include delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
Topicals
Topicals are cannabis-infused ointments, balms, oils, and lotions that are applied to the skin. They are absorbed through the skin to provide pain relief, muscle soreness, and many other benefits.
Most topicals use a ratio of THC to CBD to target specific conditions. They can help with a variety of problems, from pain and itching to psoriasis, dry skin, and acne.
When you apply a cannabis topical to your skin, it interacts with the cannabinoid receptors in your epidermis – the outer layer of your skin. These are the CB1 and CB2 receptors that have been shown to have a role in calming your body, reducing inflammation, and easing pain and itching.
Once the cannabinoids in a topical come into contact with these receptors, they interact with your body’s natural endocannabinoids to provide additional health benefits. These endocannabinoids, which are found throughout your body, are responsible for regulating a number of functions, including hunger, sleep, memory, mood, and stress.
However, if your body isn’t functioning at its optimal level, you may not experience the effects of a cannabis topical. This is because the cannabinoids don’t reach your bloodstream until they’ve been absorbed into the body through the skin.
Then, they can bind with CB2 receptors located in your brain and nervous system to affect your mood and feelings. This is why some people get a high when they ingest or inhale marijuana.
The integumentary system is also a major target for marijuana because it has its own set of cannabinoid receptors that can affect the entire body. As a result, marijuana is often used to treat pain and inflammation that aren’t well-suited for systemic medications, such as arthritis or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Oral
The human integumentary system protects, nourishes, insulates, and cushions the body and is an essential part of life. Without it, an individual would be attacked by bacteria and die from heat and water loss. The integumentary system also provides a wide range of external clues regarding the individual’s internal health state.
The integumentary system is a complex network that includes the skin, hair, nails, and accessory structures such as certain exocrine glands (glands that produce secretions that are carried to the surface of the skin or into the body cavities for elimination). A variety of conditions can affect the integumentary system, including allergies, bacterial or fungal infections, burns, psoriasis, and rosacea.
Cannabis, which is the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant, has been associated with many negative side effects, including anxiety, paranoia, mood swings, and gastrointestinal disturbances [4,6]. These may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Additionally, they may contribute to chronic pain and psychiatric disorders such as depression.
Despite these risks, there is a large number of medical benefits to using cannabis. For example, the endocannabinoid system is known to mediate inflammation. This means that consuming cannabis extracts can reduce inflammatory conditions such as acne and psoriasis, and it can help relieve pain.
In addition, studies have shown that cannabinoids can be used to treat a variety of other conditions, such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. The endocannabinoid system also plays an important role in regulating sleep, appetite, and memory.
It is important for oral health professionals to be up-to-date on the current laws, medicinal uses, and general and oral health implications of medical cannabis use. This knowledge can enhance patient care and increase satisfaction with the dental visit. Moreover, it is important for oral health professionals to be knowledgeable about the potential risks and side effects of cannabis-derived products and to educate patients and their families about these effects.
Inhalation
The integumentary system plays an important role in preventing infections and inflammation. Marijuana is a natural antibacterial substance, and it can also help with healing the skin. This is why it is a popular treatment for inflammatory conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
Inhalation is a common method of delivery for cannabis, but it can cause severe health complications. It can cause respiratory problems, especially when used by people who work in the industry that cultivates or mixes marijuana plant material (e.g., farmers, plant scientists). Smoked cannabis can also be harmful when inhaled by pets. Pets can develop toxicity after inhaling cannabis, especially when they have high concentrations of THC.
It can also irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. For this reason, it is important to wear proper protective equipment when working with marijuana plants.
Another potential health hazard associated with cannabis is that it can increase the risk of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress increases the production of free radicals, which may contribute to the development of diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Therefore, it is essential to limit the amount of vaporized or smoked cannabis that is inhaled. In addition, it is crucial to ensure that the person inhaling the drug does not have any other medical conditions that could make them more sensitive to oxidative stress.
During a controlled trial, participants voluntarily inhaled either vaporized or smoked cannabis at target THC doses of 0 mg, 10 mg, and 25 mg for each session. The doses were weighed before each session to ensure that they delivered the expected THC content. The cannabis was vaporized in a Volcano Medic (Storz & Bickel, Oakland, CA) or smoked using a small handheld pipe prefilled with cannabis.
The participants completed the Drug Effect Questionnaire, a 100-mm visual analog scale that evaluates the extent to which they felt the drug. They rated the effects of the drug on their overall mood, how they felt when they were high, and their appetite.
Results of this study showed that the magnitude of the drug effects was significantly larger when cannabis was vaporized than when it was smoked, and the effects lasted longer after inhalation. Inhalation of cannabis vapors resulted in an increase in blood THC levels, compared with inhalation of the same dosage of cannabis by mouth. In addition, plasma THC concentrations correlated with subjective ratings of drug effect and changes in heart rate (HR) when tested using the Dr. Saunders Stroke Scale, suggesting that oxidative stress was one of the contributing factors to the increased heart rate and stroke.
Ingestion
Cannabis is a psychoactive drug that is often smoked, eaten or vaped. It has a number of effects including euphoria, anxiety relief and sedation. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary psychoactive component of the plant.
Smoking marijuana releases THC into the bloodstream and carries it to the brain. THC is the main reason people feel “high.” Some cannabis plants contain very little THC, so they can be used to produce hemp fibre.
When cannabis is ingested or vaporised, the THC gets into the bloodstream more slowly than when smoked. It takes about 1-2 minutes for a dose of cannabis to be absorbed into the bloodstream when smoked and 45 minutes when it is ingested or vaporised.
Ingestion of THC is not recommended, especially in young children or those with medical conditions. It can cause liver problems, vomiting, dizziness, nausea, and a feeling of being unwell. It can also increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
CBD has antibacterial properties and can reduce the inflammation that contributes to a range of skin conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, acne, and some types of scabies. It may also be effective against treatment-resistant MRSA, a type of bacteria that causes life-threatening skin infections.
Topical products containing CBD have also been shown to reduce the symptoms of a variety of skin conditions, such as dryness, redness, irritation and itching. These products activate CB2 receptors on the skin and deliver cannabinoids to these receptors, which are found in skin cells.
There is also evidence that topical products containing THC can be helpful for patients with pain and insomnia, as well as helping to relieve stress. Despite these benefits, it is important to note that the safety of topical cannabis has not been established.
There is a need for rigorous research to determine the risks and complications associated with prolonged use of cannabis in relation to the integumentary system. However, there are several factors that must be taken into account when performing such studies. These include lipid solubility of cannabinoids, which helps them to persist in the fatty tissues of the body and lead to the detection of their metabolites in urine weeks after the initial dose.
