Cannabis Creams Could Ease Eczema, New Study Suggests

What is eczema, and why are steroids often not enough?

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition marked by dry, itchy and reddened skin.

Across Europe, eczema affects roughly 3–5% of adults and up to 15% of children. Standard treatment with steroid creams is effective, but prolonged use comes with well-documented drawbacks: thinning of the skin, local immunosuppression and rebound flare-ups once treatment stops. That is why many patients go looking for non-steroidal alternatives – and it is precisely here that CBD for eczema enters the picture.

The study: a CBD and CBG ointment for atopic dermatitis

A Polish research team set out to measure how an ointment containing 30% CBD and 5% CBG affects quantifiable skin parameters in atopic dermatitis.

Study design: Nine adults with atopic dermatitis – five men and four women, aged between 20 and 67 – applied an ointment containing 30% CBD (cannabidiol) and 5% CBG (cannabigerol) for eight weeks, combined with cannabis sativa oil in a cholesterol ointment base. The researchers measured biophysical properties of the skin: hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), sebum, redness (erythema) and melanin.

Results after eight weeks:

• Improved skin hydration – though at the four-week mark it was still at baseline level
• Lower transepidermal water loss, pointing towards a more stable skin barrier
• Less redness across the treated areas
• According to the study's authors, a regression of the skin lesions

How much weight should this carry? The study is small and had no control group – which makes it a pilot trial rather than an efficacy study. The authors themselves point out that the measurements were taken in May and June, a period in which atopic dermatitis frequently improves anyway, and that the findings would need to be re-examined during phases when symptoms are worsening. A few participants stopped using the ointment because of its greasy texture.

The work was published by Burczyk and colleagues in 2025 in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology: Evaluation of Biophysical Parameters of the Skin of Patients With Atopic Dermatitis After Application of an Ointment Containing 30% Cannabidiol and 5% Cannabigerol.

How might CBD and CBG work in eczema?

Both cannabinoids act on the endocannabinoid system – a network of receptors that is also present in the skin.

CBD (cannabidiol) is discussed for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. It interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors in the skin, which play a part in regulating inflammatory processes and the immune response.

CBG (cannabigerol) is far less well researched, but laboratory work suggests growing potential in dermatology: it inhibits certain inflammatory mediators and has antibacterial activity – relevant in eczema, where the skin barrier and bacterial colonisation both play a role.

The idea that the two cannabinoids work better together than apart is explained through the entourage effect, which is also described in CBD-rich cannabis varieties such as Northern Lights CBD. For the skin, however, this link has yet to be demonstrated – it remains a plausible hypothesis rather than established fact.

What it means for cosmetics, medicine and cannabis research

The paper forms part of a growing body of research into non-psychoactive cannabinoids in dermatology.

As legalisation advances and research expands, the therapeutic possibilities of CBD and CBG are being examined more closely. In skincare, cannabis-derived ingredients have long been a market trend – studies like this one offer the first measurable indications of whether that trend has a scientific footing. In the longer term, findings of this kind could pave the way for non-steroidal, cannabis-based approaches to chronic inflammatory skin conditions – not only eczema, but psoriasis or rosacea too.

An important caveat: that will require larger, controlled follow-up studies. No treatment recommendation can be drawn from a pilot study involving nine participants.

CBD for eczema – what you should know

For anyone looking for alternatives to synthetic creams, this line of research is worth watching. A well-tolerated, plant-based product could be particularly relevant for patients who struggle with conventional treatments – but as things stand today, it is not a substitute for a treatment prescribed by a doctor.

Please note: This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. If you have eczema or any other skin condition, please consult a dermatologist.