Skin and the endocannabinoid system
The balance of skin cells.
The balance of skin cells. Where the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 sit in this region, what they do there, and what is actually known about CBD; at three levels for Everyone, Students and Experts, with sources.
Blood vessels and skinCB1 low · CB2 very low (Human Protein Atlas)Last updated:
What's on this page?
Interactive 3D · real anatomy and real data
Where in your body are the cannabinoid receptors?
About 1.4 MB to download.
Regions
How to read it Choose a region, or tap a glowing point on the map.
- Solid light is the CB1 receptor, a ring is CB2. Each region has its own color; the color only tells regions apart.
- The strength of the light is the receptor gene level measured in human tissue (Human Protein Atlas). That is why the liver’s point is dim: a healthy liver has few receptors.
- With the layer selector above you can also see other receptors, the enzymes that make and break down endocannabinoids, and the liver enzymes that break down CBD and THC.
- Every piece of information shows its source and the type of evidence (human, animal, cell). You can change the reading level above.
- Drag to rotate. Use the + and − buttons to zoom; on a computer, Ctrl or ⌘ with the scroll wheel, on a phone, two fingers.
Skin: RNA level of the receptor gene in human tissue (tissue consensus data). The value is the average of the whole skin sample; in human skin sections, both receptors stained in many cell types. Human Protein AtlasHuman tissue
| Receptor | Gene | RNA (nTPM) | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| CB1 | CNR1 | 2.9 | low |
| CB2 | CNR2 | 0.1 | very low |
What does it do there?
In human skin, CB1 and CB2 receptors have been seen in many cells: in the cells of the outer skin, in hair follicles, in oil and sweat glands, in some immune cells and in the fine sensory nerves that branch through the skin. Ständer 2005Human tissue
According to a review, the endocannabinoid system in the skin constantly regulates the growth, maturation and immune balance of skin cells. In human hair follicles grown in the laboratory, anandamide slowed hair growth through CB1. In mice lacking both receptors, allergic skin inflammation was more severe. Bíró 2009ReviewTelek 2007Human tissueKarsak 2007Animal
Student level: terms and cell types
On immunohistochemistry, CB1 and CB2 were seen in cutaneous nerve fiber bundles, mast cells, macrophages, epidermal keratinocytes, and the epithelial cells of hair follicles, sebocytes and eccrine sweat glands. In keratinocytes, the hair follicle and the sebaceous gland, the two receptors showed complementary distributions; double staining with CGRP suggested that the receptors are found on small peptidergic sensory nerves. Ständer 2005Human tissue
According to a review, the main job of the system in the skin is to control the balance of proliferation, differentiation and survival of skin and appendage cells (hair follicle, sebaceous gland) as well as immune competence and tolerance. In organ-cultured human scalp follicles, anandamide and THC reduced hair shaft elongation in a dose-dependent way and induced the early regression phase (catagen); a selective CB1 antagonist blocked these effects. In mice lacking CB1 and CB2, allergic contact hypersensitivity was more severe; in FAAH-deficient mice with high anandamide, the response was reduced. Bíró 2009ReviewTelek 2007Human tissueKarsak 2007Animal
Expert level: method notes and numbers
Skin: RNA level of the receptor gene in human tissue (tissue consensus data). The value is the average of the whole skin sample; in human skin sections, both receptors stained in many cell types. Human Protein AtlasHuman tissue
Method note
Ständer 2005: immunohistochemistry; human skin sections and one case of mastocytosis; double immunostaining with CGRP (sample size not in the abstract). Telek 2007: human scalp hair follicle organ culture; CB1 expression depends on the hair cycle, while CB2 expression does not. Dobrosi 2008: the SZ95 human sebocyte line carries CB2 but not CB1; endocannabinoids increased lipid production through CB2. Karsak 2007: contact hypersensitivity model, CB1/CB2 double-deficient and FAAH−/− mice. Ständer 2005Human tissueTelek 2007Human tissueDobrosi 2008Cell / labKarsak 2007Animal
What is known about CBD?
In the laboratory, CBD blocked the effect of substances that increase oil production in human oil gland cells and in human skin organ culture and suppressed the proliferation of these cells; these effects worked through an ion channel called TRPV4. In the same study, it also suppressed an inflammation-related signaling pathway (NF-κB). These are laboratory findings. Oláh 2014Cell / labHuman tissue
Mixed results Very weak evidence
In the guide: Skin Conditions and CBD
Research results are mixed. It has not been proven that CBD works for this. If you are considering CBD, you can talk with your doctor or pharmacist, including about the medicines you take.
Mixed results Weak evidence
In the guide: CBD Cream and Pain
Research results are mixed. It has not been proven that CBD works for this. If you are considering CBD, you can talk with your doctor or pharmacist, including about the medicines you take.
Which receptor and enzyme genes are read in this region?
Values in this region for the genes in the map's layer selector: besides CB1 and CB2, the other targets of cannabinoids, the enzymes that make and break down endocannabinoids, and the liver enzymes that break down CBD and THC.
| Gene | What does it do? | Here | Tissue where it is read the most |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receptors | |||
| CB1 CNR1 | Cannabinoid receptor | 2.9 | cerebral cortex (18.6) |
| CB2 CNR2 | Cannabinoid receptor | 0.1 | spleen (8.4) |
| TRPV1 | Heat and chili pepper sensor · ion channel | 4.8 | liver (21.8) |
| GPR55 | Long an "orphan" receptor · in the cell membrane | 0.4 | testis (4.4) |
| PPARγ PPARG | Gene switch · in the cell nucleus | 6.7 | adipose tissue (153.2) |
| 5-HT1A HTR1A | Serotonin receptor · in the cell membrane | 0.0 | hippocampal formation (6.1) |
| TRPV2 | Relative of TRPV1 · ion channel | 6.2 | lung (29.5) |
| Endocannabinoid enzymes | |||
| NAPE-PLD NAPEPLD | Makes anandamide | 2.9 | kidney (13.9) |
| FAAH | Breaks down anandamide | 11.5 | testis (46.0) |
| DAGLα DAGLA | Makes 2-AG | 0.5 | cerebral cortex (12.3) |
| DAGLβ DAGLB | Makes 2-AG | 12.2 | adrenal gland (15.2) |
| MGL MGLL | Breaks down 2-AG | 36.0 | adipose tissue (161.3) |
| ABHD6 | Breaks down 2-AG | 24.1 | liver (60.7) |
| ABHD12 | Breaks down 2-AG | 51.2 | epididymis (125.2) |
| Enzymes that break down CBD and THC | |||
| CYP3A4 | Breaks down CBD and THC | 1.2 | liver (3,367.1) |
| CYP2C19 | Breaks down CBD | 0.6 | liver (178.0) |
| CYP2C9 | Breaks down THC | 2.1 | liver (1,607.6) |
RNA level shows how much the gene is read in this tissue; it does not directly show the amount of protein or how active an enzyme is. Human Protein Atlas (layers)Human tissue
Identifiers and citation
- Skin
- Skin · MeSH D012867 · UBERON 0002097 · Wikidata Q1074
- Receptors
- CB1 (CNR1, UniProt P21554) · CB2 (CNR2, UniProt P34972)
How to cite: cbd.school editorial team. Skin and the endocannabinoid system. Endocannabinoid system 3D map, cbd.school. Last updated October 24, 2026. https://cbd.school/learn/endocannabinoid-system-map/deri/
The body model is derived from BodyParts3D (DBCLS, CC BY 4.0) and Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0); receptor levels from Human Protein Atlas v25 (CC BY 4.0). The map, text and downloaded images are CC BY-SA 4.0. An independent expert review has not been done yet. All licenses
Other pages of the map
Overview: what the endocannabinoid system is, the feedback brake at the synapse, CBD's targets, lesson mode, data and licenses.
Sources
Show 8 references
- Human Protein Atlas v25: tissue RNA consensus data (rna_tissue_consensus.tsv, HPA and GTEx, nTPM) and brain region data (rna_brain_region_hpa.tsv, nTPM), CNR1 (ENSG00000118432) and CNR2 (ENSG00000188822); v25.proteinatlas.org, file date November 6, 2025, downloaded October 24, 2026. Uhlén M et al. Tissue-based map of the human proteome. Science. 2015;347(6220):1260419. License CC BY 4.0. PMID 25613900 · doi:10.1126/science.1260419 Human tissue
- Ständer S, Schmelz M, Metze D et al. Distribution of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2) on sensory nerve fibers and adnexal structures in human skin. J Dermatol Sci. 2005;38(3):177-88. PMID 15927811 · doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2005.01.007 Human tissue
- Bíró T, Tóth BI, Haskó G et al. The endocannabinoid system of the skin in health and disease: novel perspectives and therapeutic opportunities. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2009;30(8):411-20. PMID 19608284 · doi:10.1016/j.tips.2009.05.004 Review
- Telek A, Bíró T, Bodó E et al. Inhibition of human hair follicle growth by endo- and exocannabinoids. FASEB J. 2007;21(13):3534-41. PMID 17567570 · doi:10.1096/fj.06-7689com Human tissue
- Karsak M, Gaffal E, Date R et al. Attenuation of allergic contact dermatitis through the endocannabinoid system. Science. 2007;316(5830):1494-7. PMID 17556587 · doi:10.1126/science.1142265 Animal
- Dobrosi N, Tóth BI, Nagy G et al. Endocannabinoids enhance lipid synthesis and apoptosis of human sebocytes via cannabinoid receptor-2-mediated signaling. FASEB J. 2008;22(10):3685-95. PMID 18596221 · doi:10.1096/fj.07-104877 Cell / lab
- Oláh A, Tóth BI, Borbíró I et al. Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes. J Clin Invest. 2014;124(9):3713-24. PMID 25061872 · doi:10.1172/JCI64628 Cell / labHuman tissue
- Human Protein Atlas v25: tissue RNA consensus data (rna_tissue_consensus.tsv, HPA and GTEx, nTPM), the 17 genes in the map's layer selector: CNR1, CNR2, TRPV1, GPR55, PPARG, HTR1A, TRPV2, NAPEPLD, FAAH, DAGLA, DAGLB, MGLL, ABHD6, ABHD12, CYP3A4, CYP2C19, CYP2C9; v25.proteinatlas.org/download/tsv/rna_tissue_consensus.tsv.zip, downloaded October 24, 2026. Uhlén M et al. Tissue-based map of the human proteome. Science. 2015;347(6220):1260419. License CC BY 4.0. PMID 25613900 · doi:10.1126/science.1260419 Human tissue