Treating Hair Loss with CBD – Benefits & Effects

There is some evidences that CBD, one of the non-psychoactive compounds found in medical marijuana is effective in the treatment of hair loss. CBD is a cannabinoid that fuels the physiological system in the body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Of course, the endocannabinoid system on its part works with the body’s natural processes to create an overall internal balance.

Hair loss is a common condition that can be experienced by everyone. This condition which can affect either the scalp or the entire body can be the result of hereditary, hormonal changes, medical conditions and even medications. Baldness is the most common form of hair loss. It refers to excessive hair loss from the scalp and it’s more common in men. The most common cause of baldness is hereditary hair loss with age. Some people prefer to let their hair loss run its course untreated and unhidden, whereas others prefer to cover it up with makeup, hair styles, hats as well as scarfs.

Hair loss could come up either suddenly or gradually and could affect your scalp or your entire body. It is imperative to note that some types of hair loss are permanent while others are temporal. Some of the common signs and symptoms of hair loss include circular or patchy bald spots, sudden loosening of hair, patches or scaling that spreads over the scalp as well as full body hair loss, etc. Of course losing some hair daily doesn’t necessarily mean you are suffering from hair loss. The truth is that it is normal to lose about 100 strains of hair a day and this usually doesn’t cause noticeable thinning of scalp hair since new hair grows simultaneously. Hair loss rather occurs when the cycle of hair growth and shedding is disrupted or when the hair follicle is destroyed and replaced with scar tissue.

There are many factors that account for hair loss, some of which include hormonal changes and medical conditions, medications and supplements, radiation therapy to the head, family history (hereditary), stress as well as certain hairstyles and treatments. There are some effective treatment options for some types of hair loss. It should be recalled that you might either be able to reverse hair loss or at least slow down further thinning of the hair.

Of course, with some conditions like patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair could regrow without treatment within the year. Medications such as Minoxidil (Rogaine) and Finasteride (Propecia) are available to effectively treat certain types of hair loss like pattern or hereditary baldness. Meanwhile hair transplant surgeries, laser therapy as well as other lifestyle and home remedies can also be used to treat hair loss.

CBD has been proven to contain powerful nutrients as well as fatty acids that are vital for hair growth. As a matter of fact, CBD is a rich source of omegas, linolenic and gamma acids, which all help to sustain normal hair growth. In addition, CBD also contains high levels of Vitamin E, which can restore damaged cells, thicken hair and even regulate hormones in the body. Thus, even though alopecia and hereditary baldness may continue, the frequent use of CBD can improve current hair by thickening, strengthening and slowing down the rate of loss. Moreover, because other dietary deficiencies can also result in hair loss, the dense nutrient composition in CBD can equally help to avoid such deficiencies that affect the hair adversely.

Despite the fact that CBD is often consumed orally, it could also be topically applied on the scarf to solve some hair problems like eczema and seborrhoeic dermatitis. However, it is worthy to note that the evidences to support CBD’s ability to treat these conditions are currently solely anecdotal. Researchers have revealed that CBD is highly unlikely to treat medical hair loss conditions, especially if it’s genetic like male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss, both of which cause thinning hair anywhere in the vertex area, from the crown to the hairline, in those affected.

Summarily, it is apparent that CBD is rich in nutrients that are ideal for hair growth. That said, there is a need for more studies on the extent to which CBD can effectively treat different kinds of hair loss without adverse side effects.

Sources:

Mayo Clinic
The Belgravia Center