Depending on what side of TikTok you’re on, you may see videos of women talking about “gardening” and the many benefits it has on their lives. “Gardening” for those of us who need a TikTok translator (aka most of us) is shorthand for consuming weed in some form, whether by smoking or having an edible.
In the last few years, many states have legalized and commercialized cannabis, while societally, it’s become way more normal to talk about it openly, too. In 2024 alone, you were just as likely to see it on the election ballot (like in Nebraska) as you were to see it on Instagram (like with dispensaries like Alta).
The destigmatization of weed also opened up pathways to ask some consequential questions on the topic, like does smoking really cause acne?
The connection between weed and acne
According to Harvard, hormone fluctuations, stress, and inflammation are just some of the triggers that can cause adult acne. Everyone’s skin reacts differently to whatever you eat, consume, or put on your face.
Research has found a correlation between smoking cigarettes and increased acne because of the inflammatory response one’s body goes through. So, it would be natural to assume that smoking weed could potentially lead to the same acne results.
But while past studies have shown the connection between smoking cigarettes and acne, researchers have yet to dive deep into how smoking weed could potentially impact your skin. Right now, any conversations you may have heard about a connection between weed and acne are purely anecdotal. Even if they aren’t supported by research yet, it doesn’t mean they aren’t true or your lived reality is any less real.
How CBD skincare products factor into your skincare
There is still much for researchers to study when it comes to how weed impacts (or doesn’t impact) a person’s skin. But, they do know that CBD, a component of the cannabis plant, can be beneficial for a few reasons.
To start — the cannabis plant, which is the root of the drug, is made up of many different ingredients, including Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the active ingredient in weed that leads to one of its most common symptoms — the feeling of getting “high.” On the other hand, when CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant, it does not lead to any impairing effects. Instead, studies have shown that it can actually be used to help combat everything from inflammation to anxiety.
While its benefits are wide-ranging, CBD is especially noteworthy when it comes to skincare. Most CBD skincare products use the active ingredient to create products that support acne-prone skin, target inflammation or repair dry skin.
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When will we know more about how smoking weed and acne flare-ups?
Currently, there’s no inkling about major studies that will help us answer the big question about smoking weed and acne, but that doesn’t mean that you have to stop noticing your own symptoms.
Skincare and skin health are personal and subject to your own sensitivities. Keep track of how your skin reacts every time you smoke or what happens when you stop smoking for a few days. Similar to caffeine, weed’s inflammatory ingredients may trigger some people’s skin while it heals others’. The best thing you can do is to make a note of how it impacts you.
Vivian Nunez is a writer. Her award-winning Instagram community has created pathways for speaking about mental health and grief. She hosts the podcast Happy To Be Here, and has been featured by Spotify, Instagram, Netflix, CBS, This Morning, Oprah! The Magazine, and more. You can find Vivian @vivnunez on Instagram/TikTok and her writing on vivnunez.substack.com.
