A Complete User’s Guide to CBD Topicals

Want the pain relief that CBD can provide? Topical solutions are a great way to get the medicine you need. Learn how to use CBD topicals in this guide.

It seems like there’s no stopping the current CBD craze. In fact, CBD companies are mixing up new ways consumers can use their products. Today, CBD is offered in drops, candies, lotions, and even dog treats.

In 2016, the sales for CBD products totaled $262.2 million. Recent data, however, predicts the sales will reach $1.8 billion by 2022.

Many people praise CBD topicals and other products for pain relief. CBD can also help:

• Soothe anxiety and depression
• Improve sleep
• Improve focus and concentration
• Ease the symptoms of certain diseases

Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t have psychoactive effects. This has led more people to choose products such as CBD topicals to relieve their aches and pains.

Interested in discovering how to use CBD topicals? Keep reading to learn more!

Best Uses

CBD topicals and other cannabis products have a wide range of uses. For example, CBD is successful for suppressing inflammatory and neuropathic pain, according to this study. More specifically, applying the topical to your skin can help with:

• Acne
• Nerve pain
• Contact dermatitis
• Neck and back pain
• Bacterial infections
• Eczema
• Itchy rashes
• Muscle pain
• Psoriasis
• Inflammatory skin conditions
• Joint swelling
• Joint pain (arthritis)

Each day, more people who use CBD topicals are finding new applications.

Topicals are available in a number of forms as well, including ointments, liniments, balms, and salves. There are also body butters, mud masks, and lip balms. You can explore these products to find the best topical pain relief product that suits your needs.

How Does It Work?

The body’s endocannabinoid system plays a part in how our body responds to pain. When our body doesn’t have the proper immune response, it can cause inflammation.

The endocannabinoid system is a part of the nervous system. It’s made up of neurotransmitters called cannabinoids. This system regulates the immune system, appetite, and pain.

It also plays a part in regulating our sleep, mood, metabolism, and cardiovascular function.

The endocannabinoid system includes two receptors known as CB1 and CB2. The cannabinoids found in cannabis are able to act on these receptors. As a result, CBD is able to work as an anti-inflammatory for the body.

CBD is able to block the receptors from activating. These receptors are found throughout our skin. Using CBD topicals can help reduce the inflammation associated with your pain.

Side Effects

CBD and cannabis topicals are considered safe to apply to the skin. They’re not likely to cause side effects. If the CBD topical you’re using contains THC, you also won’t experience any psychoactive effects by applying THC lotion.

However, it’s important to test a small amount of THC lotion on your skin first. As with any skincare product, you might experience an allergic reaction. It’s also not recommended to use a CBD skin product with alcohol.

If you experience an allergic reaction, it might be a reaction to an additive in the product, not the CBD.

Before using a THC lotion, check the ingredient list. Try to find products that only contain CBD. It also helps to choose a product with a base such as hemp seed oil or coconut oil.

Best Practices

Always speak to a doctor before you decide to use CBD. Once you choose your CBD topicals, here are a few best practices to consider.

1. Choose a Spot

First, determine where you want to apply the topical.

Consider where the majority of your pain is coming from. The source of your pain could cause you to experience pain somewhere else. For example, the tension in your neck or shoulders could cause you to develop a headache.

Determining why you’re in pain can help you find a way to relieve the inflammation. In this case, you can locate the best spot to apply your CBD topical to ensure it successfully relieves your pain.

If you can’t determine a specific spot, here are a few common spots people in pain apply topical CBD to:

• Back of the heel/foot
• Soles of the feet
• Shoulders
• Neck
• Elbows, knees, joints
• Wrists
• Temples

You can rub a small amount of topical CBD to these spots, or have your significant other, massage the CBD onto those hard-to-reach areas.

2. Clean the Area

The world is full of bacteria and contaminants that cling to our skin.

Before you use your CBD topicals, clean off. While you don’t have to take a shower, consider applying a moist washcloth to your skin. This will ensure your skin is free of sweat or dirt.

Then, dry the area before you apply the topical.

Cleaning off your skin can make the topical more effective.

3. Generous Application

Once you’ve cleaned and dried the area, apply your CBD topical generously.

Massage and rub the topical into your skin. Make sure you’re not so vigorous that you cause yourself additional pain or discomfort. Instead, be firm and give yourself a good, soothing massage.

If needed, you can also apply a second or third application onto the skin.

How much THC cream you use depends on your level of discomfort.

4. Wash Up

After you’ve applied the THC lotion, make sure to wash your hands. Many topicals include ingredients such as mint or citrus. You don’t want to accidentally touch your eye after rubbing a layer of CBD lotion onto your skin.

5. Remain Realistic

CBD works a little differently for everyone. Its effectiveness can often depend on your level of pain. Your relief can also depend on the type of THC lotion you’re using.

It’s important to remain realistic after using a CBD cream.

Don’t expect your pain to disappear, or for the relief to last forever. Using a CBD topical isn’t a cure to the problem you’re experiencing. Rather, it can help make your pain symptoms more bearable and manageable.

Feel free to reapply your CBD topical as needed throughout the day. If you work outside, you could potentially sweat the lotion off.

Realizing Relief: Your Guide to Using CBD Topicals

Massage your pain away! By using CBD topicals, you can experience sweet pain relief without taking pain killers. Instead, a little THC cream and a soothing massage are all you need!

Explore our Blog section for more CBD tips, tricks, and guides!