From moisturizing to controlling inflammation, hemp seed oil for skin benefits are aplenty.
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In this article:
- Reduces Dryness and Oiliness
- Works with Different Skin Types
- Decreases Skin Inflammation
- Fights Aging
- Increases Oxygenation to the Skin
5 Reasons Why Hemp Seed Oil for Skin Is Good for You
What Is Hemp Seed Oil? It is the oil that comes from the food-grade strain of Cannabis sativa plant.
1. Reduces Dryness and Oiliness
One of the significant advantages of using hemp seed oil for skin is it can do two things simultaneously: moisturize your skin and balance the oiliness without clogging the pores.
A moisturizer is important when you have dry skin. This is so to keep your skin from getting flaky and prevent it from getting itchy and prone to inflammation and even infection.
A lot of oil on the skin, meanwhile, can increase the odds of acne. It may also make your pore appear larger.
Many skincare products can deal with either one of them, but it’s not common to find those that can work with both dry and oily skin.
Some moisturizers can contain high amounts of emollient, which adds more oil into the skin. It’s not ideal if your skin already looks shiny.
A hemp seed extract can do both without clogging the pores even when it’s an oil. This also makes it excellent for those with combination skin.
2. Works with Different Skin Types
If you’re wondering why one product works for one and it doesn’t for you, it’s because people have different skin types.
Take, for example, combination skin. A person with this type may have oily skin on the T-zone, or the central part of the face (and the forehead), and then dry skin on the rest.
It’s also possible to have a combination of normal and dry skin. Some people may have normal but sensitive skin, which means it can react to certain product ingredients.
As you age, the quality of your skin also changes. You may find your skin more prone to drying as your wrinkles begin to appear.
One of the hemp seed oil benefits for skin is it tends to work on all types. It can be your skin partner for many years.
3. Decreases Skin Inflammation
It’s normal for the skin to develop redness, itchiness, and other signs of inflammation once in a while. In fact, inflammation is a natural body response.
It becomes a problem when it is chronic. Some of the common inflammatory conditions of the skin include the following:
- Acne, which results in the growth of cysts, blackheads, and whiteheads
- Psoriasis, a skin condition characterized by the appearance of flaky, patchy, and red scales
- Eczema or atopic dermatitis, which is red and itchy skin
- Lichen planus, a skin condition featuring rashes
A 2014 study in Pharmacognosy Review revealed emp seed oil may help reduce these types of inflammation. Subsequently, it can prevent possible infections.
It may derive its anti-inflammatory properties from its fatty acids, omega 3 and omega 6, as well as antioxidants.
4. Fights Aging
Hemp seed oil for skin contains vitamin F, where the letter stands for “fatty acid.” To be more specific, some call it linoleic acid.
Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid, which means the body doesn’t produce it. You need to get it from external sources.
The benefit to the skin is vital, though. It can strengthen the barrier of the outermost layer of the skin.
With it, the skin is able to retain much of its water, keeping it supple, smooth, and healthy. It also prevents threats and aggressors that can lead to premature aging.
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5. Increases Oxygenation to the Skin
The hemp seed oil can also help improve the skin from the inside, thanks to its vitamin E content. This vitamin can increase the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to different parts of the body.
It can also improve the dilation of the blood vessels. This allows the blood to flow properly and reach their destination more effectively.
Thus, the skin is kept healthy through the nutrients and oxygen being efficiently delivered by the blood.
The Challenges and Risks of Hemp Seed Oil
In spite of the different benefits of hemp seed oil for acne and other skin conditions, using it can be challenging. To understand what this means, we have to answer first, what is hemp seed oil?
Hemp seed oil is an extract from a strain of a cannabis plant called Cannabis sativa. It shares similarities with marijuana except for one thing: the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
THC is a cannabinoid (CBD), which is responsible for the “high” people get from weed. While marijuana can contain as much as 20% THC (by dry weight), hemp can have as low as 0.3% (by dry weight).
Hemp seed oil slightly differs from CBD oil, which may also come from hemp. Again, they vary in the THC content with the latter having higher concentrations.
In fact, the best hemp seed oil should have no trace of THC. The process of extracting it, though, can be complicated higher amounts of cannabinoid can still end up in the oil.
The hemp seed oil also has potential side effects. These can include digestive issues such as diarrhea, acid reflux, and nausea.
Most of all, using hemp seed oil for skin can be complicated legal-wise. Growing hemp is legal, but products with CBD including this oil may not find favor with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for now.
Use Purple Tea Instead
The good news is you can find alternatives for the different hemp seed oil uses. One of these is purple tea.
Like hemp, purple tea is a plant, although it is native in the mountains of Kenya. It also contains polyphenol antioxidants, whose function works similarly as the contents of hemp seed oil.
They can:
- Reduce skin inflammation
- Moisturize the skin
- Improve the appearance of the pores
- Relieve dryness
Purple tea is also essential in preventing signs of aging through collagen production. Collagen is the protein structure that works like the skin’s scaffolding.
It plays a significant role in keeping your skin soft, elastic, and not sagging. Both old age and photoaging, however, can affect the creation of collagen.
What Is Photoaging? It is premature skin aging due to prolonged or constant exposure to UV rays.
There’s no doubt that the benefits of hemp seed oil for skin are many. Until it receives the full support of the government, however, you may find yourself dealing with complicated regulations.
If you’re concerned about THC and its effects, hemp seed oil may not be the right one for you. Instead, consider another potent substance such as purple tea.
Your skin can still have the same benefits without the legal trouble and the possibility of getting high.
Do you know of other hemp seed oil benefits and side effects? Share them in the comments section below!
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