Illinois dermatologists have found that a group of plant ingredients known as cannabinoids, can prevent and reverse skin aging and age-related conditions, according to a study published online May 18 in the journal Cell Research.
The study used skin biopsies from over 100 patients in the U.S. and Canada to study how cannabinoids work.
The researchers found the cannabinoids were able to stop and reverse the progression of human skin aging, such as rosacea and rosmarinic acid.
The compounds were found to be able to block the damage that happens to the skin’s natural collagen and elastin proteins that are necessary to repair the damaged skin and protect the body from future damage, the researchers wrote in the study.
“Our results show that cannabinoids could be a promising alternative to traditional dermatologic agents,” said study senior author Andrea Pfeiffer, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
“It could be an effective and safe way to fight the aging process and extend the life of the skin,” Pfeiffser added.
Cannabinoids are substances that act as a painkiller, an appetite suppressant, a vasodilator and a hormone that stimulates growth of skin cells.
These molecules are derived from the cannabis plant and can be obtained by consuming the dried leaves of the plant, which have been used for centuries for medicinal purposes.
There is no cure for skin aging.
Instead, it is usually treated with a combination of medication and skin care products, which can cause skin to look wrinkled and flaky.
But for some people, like those who have rosopharyngitis or other forms of skin cancer, treatment with cannabis could provide a temporary relief from the disease.
The researchers found that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is found in marijuana and other cannabis-derived drugs, was able to suppress the production of elastins, the protective proteins found in the skin.
Elastins are a protein that provides the structure of skin.
Elastins also help protect the skin from the effects of UV rays, such for people with rosarsacea, which is a common skin condition that can result in wrinkles, uneven skin texture and uneven pigmentation.
Researchers believe that cannabinoids work by binding to cannabinoid receptors in the cells of the dermis, preventing their activation and thereby protecting the skin against damage.
The findings could help people who are in a state of chronic or severe skin damage, like rosarics, who might not have the same protection from aging as others.
The team’s results also showed that THC could stop and prevent skin aging that can lead to premature skin aging in people with existing rosaryczias, such a psoriasis or acne.
Pfeiffers’ team also found that the cannabinoids helped stop the growth of melanoma, the most common type of skin tumor in the world, and also accelerated the development of melanomas in people who have already had melanoma.
The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Aging.
