Researchers have found that cannabinoid contains anti-inflammatory properties that are useful in treating a wide range of skin diseases.

The researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus discovered that some pharmaceuticals containing cannabinoid could be an effective treatment for psoriasis, atopic, eczema, and contact dermatitis. The study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

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About 1 in 10 adult cannabis users in the U.S. utilize the drug for medical purposes and 28 states permit comprehensive medical cannabis programs. Upon examining the drug use for anorexia, nausea, and chronic pain, dermatologists are convinced that it is effective against a range of skin disease. Dr. Robert Dellavalle, MD, the senior author of the study, says that the role of cannabinoid when it comes to treating skin diseases is for itch.

In a previous study, eight out of 21 patients who used cannabinoid cream twice a day in a span of three weeks eliminated severe itching or pruritus, and reduced the skin from being dry which increases the itching. Dellavalle believes that the principal driver that causes cannabinoid treatments to be effective is their anti-inflammatory properties. They found that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the most vital component of marijuana, reduced inflammation and swelling in mice.

Mice that have melanoma also developed a significant inhibition of tumor growth after being injected with THC. Dellavalle suggests that topical cannabinoid drugs with minimal or no psychotropic effect can be used as a treatment for skin disease. However, he also cautioned that the study it is only based on laboratory models, and was not performed in large-scale clinical trials.