A 64-year-old woman with squamous cell carcinoma on one hand and lichen simplex chronicus on the other saw both lesions resolve with topical application of 20% CBD oil.
Dermatologists, patients with skin conditions exploring CBD, and researchers investigating topical cannabinoid applications.
Both skin cancer and chronic skin condition resolved with 20% CBD
What the researchers found
Both squamous cell carcinoma and lichen simplex chronicus resolved with topical application of 20% cannabidiol. The patient had a history of multiple squamous cell carcinomas. The endocannabinoid system plays a key role in skin homeostasis including proliferation, differentiation, and inflammatory signaling.
Why it matters
While a single case cannot prove efficacy, the resolution of a confirmed skin cancer with topical CBD is notable and warrants further investigation, especially given the endocannabinoid system's known role in skin biology.
The numbers in context
64-year-old woman. 20% CBD concentration. Both bilateral hand lesions resolved. Diagnoses confirmed by skin biopsy.
How the study worked
Single case report with biopsy-confirmed diagnoses and documented resolution with topical 20% CBD application.
What this study cannot tell us
Single case report. No control. Spontaneous resolution possible. No follow-up duration specified. 20% CBD is a high concentration not widely available commercially.
How to read the evidence
Single case report with biopsy-confirmed diagnoses but no controlled comparison.
When this study was published
Published in 2022.
The bigger picture
The endocannabinoid system's role in skin cell proliferation and differentiation provides biological plausibility for topical cannabinoid effects on skin conditions, though case reports cannot establish causation.
Questions still open
- Would topical CBD work for other patients with squamous cell carcinoma? What is the minimum effective CBD concentration? Could this complement or replace surgery for superficial skin cancers?
Common questions
Can CBD treat skin cancer?
Does CBD work for skin conditions?
Read the original research
Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Lichen Simplex Chronicus Successfully Treated with Topical Cannabinoid Oil: A Case Report and Summary of Cannabinoids in Dermatology.
Cureus, 14(4), e23850
Citation
Laborada, Jennifer; Cohen, Philip R. (2022). Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Lichen Simplex Chronicus Successfully Treated with Topical Cannabinoid Oil: A Case Report and Summary of Cannabinoids in Dermatology.. Cureus, 14(4), e23850. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.23850
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