Is CBG Good for Anti-Aging? 

Thanks to increasing interest in and legality of cannabis, cannabinoids, the chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant, are now being studied more widely. Scientists have begun to discover their numerous potential health benefits, including the effects that cannabinoids have on the skin. 

One such cannabinoid is known as “cannabigerol,” or CBG. While research is ongoing, one of the many possible benefits that CBG may possess is a potential for improving the look and feel of skin. Let’s explore how this compound affects the skin and why many skincare brands have CBG on their radar as the next big beauty product. 

What Is CBG? 

While you’ve likely heard of other compounds found in cannabis, such as CBD and THC, CBG is a compound that has only recently begun to enter the public consciousness. CBG, like CBD, is a non-psychoactive compound derived from the cannabis plant. And like CBD, it won’t get you “high.” 

Some scientists refer to CBG as the “mother of all cannabinoids” because an immature cannabis plant grows with CBG in great quantities. By the time the plant matures, that CBG has mostly turned into the more well-known compounds CBD and THC. The plant is left with only a tiny fraction of CBG, which makes it a precious cannabinoid indeed. 

Like other cannabinoids, research shows that CBG interacts with the endocannabinoid system, commonly called the ECS in the scientific community. This system exists in every human regardless of whether they use cannabis. The ECS helps regulate a variety of everyday bodily functions and processes, including sleep, mood, memory, appetite, reproduction, the immune system, pain, and hormones. Of course, scientists are interested in how cannabis might help the ECS work more effectively, and their initial discoveries are hopeful. 

Can CBD Be Used for Anti-Aging? 

Study continues about CBG’s potential use in skincare, but what we know so far is promising. While scientific research on CBG has been more limited than that on CBD, there are indications that CBG could possess properties that may help slow the aging process. 

Despite the slim research, cannabinoids’ potential anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial properties are well-known. Due to research suggesting CBG’s potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, this cannabinoid might prevent cell-damaging free radicals from prematurely aging a person’s skin. Studies have also shown that CBG and other cannabinoids may help manage skin inflammation and promote homeostasis, which can help prevent acne and other skin conditions. 

Researchers are exploring another possible anti-aging benefit of CBG: its capacity for use as a moisture-retention tool. As skin ages over the course of a person’s life, the cells lose their ability to retain moisture. That leaves the skin defenseless against the aging process, dryness, and flakiness. But like CBD, CBG has been shown to act as a kind of barrier, promoting moisture retention, helping keep skin hydrated and moisturized. That could slow the skin aging process and may help users achieve a younger appearance. 

In Summary

Scientific research on cannabinoids like CBD and CBG is in its infancy, but scientists have been studying the ECS since its discovery in the 1990s. Scientific research has shown that the ECS is vital in the maintenance of healthy skin. Because CBG has been shown to have a more potent impact on the ECS than CBD, CBG could prove to be a promising skin therapy in the years to come. 

More studies are required to understand the effects that CBG can have on the aging process, but its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties might help ward off cell damage that leads to premature aging. Moreover, CBG’s potential moisture retention properties could give skin a natural defense against the aging process.