CBD and Skin Aging: Research and Cosmetic Use

Fine lines you notice in the mirror, crow's feet at the corners of the eyes, or skin that is not as firm as it used to be are changes most of us face one day. In recent years, CBD serums and creams have also appeared on anti-aging shelves. In this article, we explain in plain language what CBD has shown in research on skin aging, what stage each finding is at, and the steps that have been shown to slow aging.

Why does skin age?

Skin aging has two sides. One is the changes that happen on their own over time: as we get older, proteins such as collagen and elastin, which give the skin firmness and elasticity, decrease, and the skin becomes thinner and drier. The other is external factors, chief among them the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. As noted in the introduction of one study, UV rays are considered the main cause of externally caused skin aging and are held responsible for most of the signs of aging on the face (Cohen 2023). UV rays increase inflammation and a type of damage called "oxidative stress" in the skin; that is why most anti-aging products emphasize "antioxidants."

Why are people curious about CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a compound from cannabis that does not make you high. The main reason it draws interest in skin care is that it has shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the lab. In a lab study published in 1998, CBD protected rat nerve cells against oxidative damage better than vitamins C and E (Hampson 1998). This result was obtained with nerve cells; it does not tell us anything directly about the skin, but experiments like this are often the source of the phrase "CBD is a powerful antioxidant."

CBD products applied to the skin are often marketed as "wrinkle-reducing" and "moisturizing," even though good evidence is limited; online search interest in them between 2015 and 2019 has also been studied (Wang 2021).

What does the research say?

Lab and animal studies

In a study with human skin cells, CBD reduced the cell death, signs of DNA damage and harmful oxygen compounds caused by UVB rays. In the same study, a cream containing 5% CBD lowered damage scores in the skin of mice exposed to UVB rays (Li 2022). Results like these explain why CBD is considered worth studying; but cell and mouse results do not tell us anything directly about wrinkles on a human face.

Human studies

Studies in people are few and small. In a preliminary (pilot) study published in 2024, 19 volunteers applied either a CBD cream or the same cream without CBD to two separate areas of their buttocks twice a day for 14 days; which cream went on which area was decided at random and kept hidden. The areas were then exposed to UVA light. The CBD-treated area had less skin thickening and fewer signs of UVA-induced DNA damage; less redness was observed in only 21% of participants (McCormick 2024). The study did not measure wrinkles, was not done on facial skin, and its results are limited to 24 hours.

In another study of 33 people, a cream containing both CBD and EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid, was used for 56 days; a reduction in wrinkles around the eyes and increases in moisture and elasticity were reported (Cohen 2023). However, the cream had two active ingredients and the abstract does not mention a comparison group, so it cannot be known how much of the result came from CBD.

A 2024 review looking at CBD's place in cosmetic dermatology also writes that the lab and animal data are promising, but that clinical studies in people are very few and the problem of delivering CBD effectively into the skin has not yet been solved (Kuzumi 2024).

Products containing THC

We could not find a human study looking at the effect of products containing THC (the compound in cannabis that makes you high) on skin aging.

A step shown to slow aging

There is a good example for comparison. In Australia, 903 adults younger than 55 were randomly assigned to groups and followed for 4.5 years. In those who applied a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, skin aging progressed 24% less than in those who used sunscreen whenever they chose. In the same study, beta-carotene, an antioxidant supplement, made no overall difference in skin aging (Hughes 2013). This result is also a reminder that being an "antioxidant" is not enough, on its own, for a substance to slow skin aging.

Possible side effects and drug interactions

No serious side effects were reported in the small studies above; but these studies were short and involved few people. As with any product you put on your face, the fragrances, preservatives and plant extracts in CBD creams can cause redness or allergy in sensitive skin. And what is in the products does not always match the label: of 71 products tested in the US that stated a CBD amount, the label was accurate for only 9; no CBD at all was found in 10 products (Dowd 2025). We cover the side effects of products applied to the skin and passage through the skin into the blood in our article CBD oil and the skin: side effects; for CBD taken by mouth, see our drug interactions page.

How was it used in studies?

Below are the forms used in studies (study doses; not a personal recommendation):

• McCormick 2024: CBD cream, twice a day for 14 days; the CBD concentration in the cream is not given in the abstract.
• Cohen 2023: cream containing CBD and EPA, 56 days; the CBD concentration is not given in the abstract.
• Li 2022: cream with 5% CBD, in mice only.

This information is not enough to choose a product or decide on an amount.

If you are thinking about using CBD

If you are worried about a change in your skin, talking with a dermatologist is the healthiest place to start. At your appointment, you can ask about:

• A sun protection and skin care routine suited to your skin type.
• Whether it is appropriate to use a CBD product together with the creams you use or have been prescribed.
• Whether you should try a new product on a small area first, if you have sensitive skin or a known allergy.

In Turkey, cannabis-derived products, including CBD, may be sold only in pharmacies (Law No. 7557, regulation of January 31, 2026). Those classed as medicines or health products are dispensed with a prescription; no prescription requirement is stated for supplement products with a THC content of no more than 0.3% or for cosmetics (personal care products). As of October 2026, there is no approved (licensed) CBD medicine in Turkey. Details are on our regulations page.

Conclusion

CBD draws interest as a substance that protects skin cells against UV damage in the lab, and the first small human studies point the same way. However, it has not yet been shown in a well-designed study that a CBD cream reduces wrinkles on the face. A step that has been shown in a well-designed study to slow skin aging is regular sun protection. You can find the strength of evidence for CBD research in skin care all in one place in our article CBD and skin care: the scientific research.

Frequently asked questions

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