Dermatology and CBD Products: Current Research

For someone who has dealt with a skin condition for a long time, news of a new treatment option always brings hope. In recent years, CBD has become one of the topics frequently discussed in dermatology journals, at conferences and in exam rooms. In this article, we explain where CBD stands in dermatology today, what doctors and patients think about it, and which studies' results are awaited.

Why is there interest in CBD in dermatology?

Our skin has a system that works with cannabinoid-like substances the body makes itself (the endocannabinoid system). This system is thought to play a role in healthy and diseased skin, and its disruption may be linked to conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, systemic sclerosis (a connective tissue disease) and skin cancer. According to a review, plant-derived cannabinoids such as CBD act not only on this system but also on other receptors in skin cells; in researchers' eyes, this "multi-target" nature makes it interesting (Río 2018). CBD (cannabidiol) is a substance obtained from cannabis that does not make you high.

What do dermatologists and patients think?

In a survey of 531 health professionals working in dermatology, 94% of participants thought it was worthwhile to study cannabinoids in skin conditions. 55% said that in the past year at least one patient had brought up the topic themselves. In the same survey, 64% of participants did not know that CBD does not make you high (Robinson 2018). In other words, doctors are interested, but there are also knowledge gaps in this area.

In another survey of 145 dermatologists, 14% of participants had recommended medical cannabis for a skin condition, most often for eczema and psoriasis. The most common reason given by those who had not recommended it was a lack of knowledge and experience (Yeroushalmi 2020). In a small survey of people with eczema, participants mostly used over-the-counter products they had bought without a dermatologist's recommendation; most had never discussed this with their doctor, and almost half did not know whether these products were regulated (Whiting 2022).

What does the research say?

An analysis combining 17 studies of cannabis and cannabinoid products in skin conditions (a meta-analysis) found a small reduction in itching; there was no clear difference in dryness, redness, quality of life or eczema scores. The researchers write that larger, standardized studies are needed (Sermsaksasithorn 2025). Controlled studies of products containing only CBD also found no clear difference in eczema (Gao 2022), psoriasis (Roongpisuthipong 2026) or acne (NCT03573518). We collected these results claim by claim in a table in our article CBD and skin care: the scientific research .

Which studies are underway?

Some of the registered, ongoing studies of CBD in skin conditions on ClinicalTrials.gov as of October 2026:

All of these studies are small, and their results have not been published yet. We did not find any CBD study being conducted in Turkey on ClinicalTrials.gov.

What will make future studies more reliable?

The most important lesson from studies so far is this: clear improvement can also be seen with creams and solutions that contain no CBD; the reason may be the cream itself, the condition getting better on its own over time, or expectation. In a 368-person acne study, the number of inflamed pimples also fell by about 11 on average in those using the solution without CBD, and this drop was no different from the CBD groups (NCT03573518). That is why studies that can give reliable results look for the following:

• Comparing the same cream with and without CBD: This makes it possible to tell whether the effect comes from CBD or from the cream. The systemic sclerosis study was designed this way.
• Comparison with standard treatment: In the eczema study, CBD is being compared with a widely used corticosteroid cream.
• Participants and researchers not knowing who is using what: This keeps expectation from affecting the result. The psoriasis study does not do this, which will make its results harder to interpret.
• A single active ingredient: In products where CBD is used together with substances such as aspartame (Gao 2022), ginger extract (Neubauer 2024) or CBG (Burczyk 2025), it is hard to separate out the effect.
• Enough people and enough time: For long-lasting conditions, small studies lasting a few weeks do not give firm results.

Products containing THC

There are very few controlled skin studies of products containing THC (the substance in cannabis that makes you high). The psoriasis study above is looking at a cannabis extract that also contains THC; its results will not give direct information about products that contain only CBD.

Possible side effects and drug interactions

CBD products applied to the skin were generally well tolerated in studies. Still, fragrances, preservatives and plant extracts in the product can cause irritation or allergies, and with some products CBD can pass through the skin into the blood. Details are in our article CBD oil and the skin: side effects ; interactions between CBD taken by mouth and medicines are on the drug interactions page.

How was it used in studies?

Some of the forms used in ongoing and completed studies (study doses; not a personal recommendation):

• 1% CBD added to a 10% urea lotion (NCT07245238).
• Cannabis extract containing CBD, CBG and THC at 20 mg per mL each, by mouth or as a cream (NCT07839455).
• Solutions containing 2.5% and 5% CBD, 12 weeks (NCT03573518).

If you are thinking about using CBD

Do not hesitate to bring this up with your dermatologist; more than half of the dermatology professionals who took part in the survey said that in the past year at least one patient had raised the topic. In that conversation, you can talk about:

• The treatments with known effects for your condition today, and which one is right for you.
• Whether it makes sense to use a CBD product in addition to that treatment.
• What is in the product you use, and whether the label states the total amount of CBD.

In Turkey, products made from cannabis, including CBD, can be sold only in pharmacies (Law No. 7557, regulation of January 31, 2026). Those classified as medicines or health products are dispensed with a prescription; no prescription requirement is stated for supplement products with a THC content of at most 0.3% or for cosmetics (personal care products). As of October 2026, there is no approved CBD medicine in Turkey. Details are on the rules page.

Conclusion

The future of CBD in dermatology depends on the better-designed studies now underway. In controlled studies so far, the most consistent finding is a small reduction in itching; products containing only CBD showed no clear difference in eczema, psoriasis or acne. New studies may show whether CBD adds anything to the cream itself or to standard treatment. An up-to-date summary of the evidence is on our skin conditions and CBD page.

Frequently asked questions

References