The skin is the largest organ of the body, totaling 20 square feet, and acts as an important facet of your health as a protective barrier of your body.^[i]

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) in your skin controls the proper and well-balanced care of skin cells (growth, differentiation, survival and immunity), but when the balance is disrupted, multiple pathological conditions and skin diseases can occur, such as:^[ii]

• Acne
• Eczema (atopic or allergic dermatitis)
• Pruritus (itchy skin)
• Psoriasis
• Seborrheic dermatitis (flaky scalp)
• Alopecia (hair growth disorders)
• Necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating skin disease)
• Systemic sclerosis (hardened skin and organs)
• Cancer

Ten of the most common skin conditions are:

Skin Balance

Both external conditions and internal issues, from viruses and bacteria to allergies and environmental factors like harsh chemicals and perfumes in household products, can disrupt the balance of your skin.

For example, 90% of all food allergies come from the "Big 8" (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and crustacean shellfish)^[iii] and can trigger skin redness, hives or eczema and cause breathing issues, nausea, diarrhea or chest pain.^[iv]

Avoiding these foods is a safe way to prevent allergic reactions. Some of the top scientifically researched alternative treatments to naturally restore your skin's balance include turmeric/curcumin, cannabis, tea tree oil, propolis (bee glue), aloe, vitamins/minerals, plant extracts, honey and black seed oil.

Turmeric/Curcumin

A meta-analysis of 18 studies shows scientific evidence that turmeric/curcumin products (oral and topical) may provide therapeutic benefits for skin diseases including:^[v]

Turmeric was very helpful for flaky scalps as well.^[vi]

Cannabis

Research suggests the cannabis plant and its cannabidiol (CBD) oil combine lipostatic (stops overproduction of oil in the skin), anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory properties, which are effective in treating acne.^[vii] Researchers are finding that cannabinoids have a role in inflammatory and neoplastic (tumor-growing) skin diseases.^[viii]

Data also suggests that of the cannabis family, cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabigerovarin (CBGV) have more potential to treat dry-skin syndromes like eczema or psoriasis, whereas cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidivarin (CBDV) and especially tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) show promise to become highly efficient against acne; phytocannabinoids also could help manage cutaneous inflammations (skin, hair, nails).^[ix]

Using a 3% cannabis seed extract cream was shown to be safe and to significantly reduce overly oily and red skin, which could effectively treat acne and flaky scalp conditions.^[x]

Tea Tree Oil, Propolis and Aloe

Use of tea tree oil significantly improved mild to moderate acne and was also well tolerated.^[xi] Tea tree oil had slower onset of results but was as effective as benzoyl peroxide with fewer side effects (nausea, trouble breathing, rash, itching/swelling, severe dizziness) for acne.^[xii]

Researchers found a cream containing 20% propolis extract, 3% tea tree oil and 10% aloe vera was as effective as the antibiotic cream erythromycin in treating acne, but without the toxicity and harmful effects of antibiotics.^[xiii],[xiv] A cream containing propolis also had a significant positive effect on recurrent herpes and shingles.^[xv]

Tea tree oil has been found to have anti-inflammatory, anti-itch and superior scabicidal (mite-killing) properties, as well as being less costly, when compared with widely used treatments for mite bites such as permethrin cream and ivermectin.^[xvi]

Tea tree oil is also recommended as a natural treatment for candida infections.^[xvii] Although the aloe extract of A. ferox was superior to that of A. vera in reducing skin inflammation, both are useful alternatives to antihistamines and topical corticosteroids for the treatment of patients suffering from recurring chronic acne.^[xviii]

Vitamins and Minerals

Deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals have been associated with skin conditions. Due to its immune properties, vitamin D modifies disease susceptibility, symptoms and evolving complications (nerve pain) during treatment of shingles.^[xix] In addition, vitamin D had a positive effect on the progress of melanoma cancer^[xx] and the severity of eczema.^[xxi]

Supplementation with both vitamins D and E in a randomized trial of 45 eczema patients showed highly beneficial results.^[xxiii] Taking vitamin E orally helped eczema symptoms decrease with no side effects.^[xxiv] A vitamin and mineral mix of nicotinamide (vitamin B3), zinc, copper and folic acid (B9) showed the same improvement in symptoms for acne and rosacea as oral antibiotic creams.^[xxv]