It is estimated at 20% of the population who develops, at some point in their life, a flare-up of hives. Sometimes it is a isolated episode, others of a chronic hives (0.5 to 2% of the population) which appears and disappears regularly on the skin of people with pain, leaving them little respite. Renowned for its calming, anti-inflammatory and soothing effects on the skin, cannabidiol (CBD) now gives new hope for a treatment. We see in this article how CBD can help relieve hives and what we know about the use of the cannabinoid on this kind of skin problem.
What is urticaria?
Urticaria is an “old” disease, in the sense that it has been known for a very long time and is easy to diagnose. However, it remains relatively poorly understood and difficult to cure, that this is in relation to the appropriate treatment but also to the identification of the cause of the appearance of the urticaria outbreaks. Thus, many people with hives still have a hard time actually managing their seizures, and therefore live comfortably with their pathology. Allergists and dermatologists are then always of good advice, advice which is not necessarily sufficient to benefit from a satisfactory solution.
On the side of the manifestation of symptoms, we always find Rashes, usually accompanied by itching and papules : red and thick patches reminiscent of nettle bites. Joint pain, digestive problems and a slight fever can also accompany the appearance of plaques on the skin, more rarely edema.
Causes of a hives flare
The causes of urticaria remain relatively poorly understood. They seem in any case very large and of varied origins:
- Food: especially after consumption of eggs, milk, nuts, fish and seafood, red fruits or chocolate.
- Medication: taking aspirin, certain antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen in particular), codeine, anesthetics, etc.
- Environment: insect bite, certain soaps and cosmetic products, jewelry (especially containing nickel), latex.
- Mental Health: periods of stress mainly.
In most cases, however, the trigger is not the real cause of the onset of urticaria, but indeed an element encouraging its appearance. The real cause remains very difficult to identify, which does not prevent having to treat the crisis as quickly as possible in order to avoid discomfort.
CBD and urticaria: a winning combination?
In the best-case scenario, a flare-up will go away quickly with taking antihistamines. A few hours, at most a few days, are then enough to allay a crisis. When this is not enough, for example if the plaques spread over a large part of the body or affect the face, oral corticosteroids (corticosteroids) should be taken.
The corticosteroid problem
Corticosteroids are formidable in the face of many skin and / or allergy problems. Urticaria is no exception and responds very well to cortisone treatments. The molecule is indeed ideal for stopping inflammation. It also belongs to the family of steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The problem is that it is far from devoid ofSide effects. These include:
- Weight gain,
- Water retention,
- Digestion problems
- Insomnia,
- Nervousness,
- Depressed state,
- Blood pressure problems (usually hypertension).
Some of these side effects are also found when taking antihistamines, which can cause weight gain, a feeling of drowsiness or heart risk disorders. The search of’alternatives to conventional treatments against urticaria thus represents a real hope for all those who suffer from it.
The hope of CBD products to relieve hives
It’s no longer a secret to many people, cannabidiol has virtuous effects on the skin and therefore stands out as an ally of choice when it comes to relieving certain pains and certain skin irritations. The market already offers many products that take advantage of the effects of CBD on the skin:
Thus, cannabidiol in general and CBD oil in particular exhibit virtuous effects on the skin, which do not seem very far from what we are trying to obtain in the context of the treatment of urticaria. And therefore constitute a real hope.
In the specific case of urticaria, the lack of in-depth research, however, still leaves room for uncertainty.
Treatment of urticaria with CBD: what we know
The bad news for anyone who suffers from hives is that, at the time of this writing, there is not enough scientific data to draw definitive conclusions about the direct influence of CBD on the body. urticaria. However, there is some good news to offset this. We know in particular that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties beautiful and well proven. It is also known that it is capable, in topical use (local, directly on the skin), ofsoothe certain irritations and D’moisturize the skin.
To date, therefore, it seems far-fetched to claim that cannabidiol can treat hives. What is not unreasonable is to seriously consider thecomfort that it can bring in direct application, in particular by reducing the discomfort related to itching or the burning feeling related to hives. Huge benefit of CBD, it does no noticeable side effects and is very easy to apply and penetrate : a huge plus when the skin is irritated.
