Cannabinoids and Skin Diseases

The journal of Experimental Dermatology has published a review, in which the authors point out the therapeutic possibilities of using cannabinoids to treat skin diseases. Recent evidence has sown that cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2 are expressed in healthy and diseased skin. Therefore, a treatment targeting these receptors could prove very effective.

Where are the receptors in skin?

The CB1 receptor is located on nerves that run through out skin; large nerves fibers and even small nerve fibers associated with hair follicles have the receptors. Furthermore,  previous work has demonstrated that human skin cells, epidermal kertinocytes, have the machinery to “synthesize, bind, and metabolize anandamide (AEA).” While the role of the endocannabinoid system in skin is a bit of a mystery, it appears to be important in skin cell maturation.

Cannabinoids and Inflammatory Skin Diseases

Cannabinoids may attenuate allergic responses. Mice lacking cannabinoid receptors experience more swelling and recruitment of immune cells than normal or wild-type mice. Blocking the CB2 receptor may also lead to a decrease in inflammation.

Pruritus

We all hate  getting an itch, especially when it leads to intense scratching and pain. While numerous treatments are available for anti-itching regiments, none are very effective as “anti-pruritic” medicines. Thus there is a great need for new and effective medicines. In regards to pruritus the authors discuss a study which had nearly 2500 people with atopic eczema. The patients used a cream containing the endocannabinoid N-Palmithoylethanolamide or PEA. This cream signifcantly decreased symptoms of eczema and was well tolerated.

Furthermore, another study of patients with uremic pruritus showed that a cream containing AEA and PEA eliminated all symptoms within 3weeks, in 38.1% of patients and more than half experienced significant reductions. A treatment this effective is desperately needed-60% of all dialysis patients will suffer from this potentially disabling disease.  On a side note, this is the closest that AEA has EVER come to being ingested for a clinical trial…

Lastly, there is evidence that some cannabinoids may be able to inhibit malignant skin tumors. However, synthetic cannabinoids that are more potent than THC, have proven to be more effective in this regard, especially WIN-55,212-2 and JWH-133. The authors conclude, “Possibly, in the future, cannabinoids will be widely applied to treat skin pruitus, inflammatory skin disease, and even skin cancers.”