Topical CBD oil cleared both skin cancer and chronic skin condition in a 64-year-old woman
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
64-year-old woman. 20% CBD concentration. Both bilateral hand lesions resolved. Diagnoses confirmed by skin biopsy.
How They Did This
Single case report with biopsy-confirmed diagnoses and documented resolution with topical 20% CBD application.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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.
Questions This Raises
- ?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?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Both skin cancer and chronic skin condition resolved with 20% CBD
- Evidence Grade:
- Single case report with biopsy-confirmed diagnoses but no controlled comparison.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Lichen Simplex Chronicus Successfully Treated with Topical Cannabinoid Oil: A Case Report and Summary of Cannabinoids in Dermatology.
- Published In:
- Cureus, 14(4), e23850 (2022)
- Authors:
- Laborada, Jennifer, Cohen, Philip R
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03987
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can CBD treat skin cancer?
In this single case, topical 20% CBD oil resolved a biopsy-confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, but one case report cannot prove CBD treats skin cancer. Controlled studies are needed.
Does CBD work for skin conditions?
The endocannabinoid system plays a role in skin homeostasis. In this case, both a cancer and an inflammatory skin condition resolved with topical CBD, but more research is needed to confirm these effects.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03987APA
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
MLA
Laborada, Jennifer, et al. "Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Lichen Simplex Chronicus Successfully Treated with Topical Cannabinoid Oil: A Case Report and Summary of Cannabinoids in Dermatology.." Cureus, 2022. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.23850
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Lichen Simplex Chronic..." RTHC-03987. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/laborada-2022-cutaneous-squamous-cell-carcinoma
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.