Review Maps Out Cannabis-Related Skin Reactions From Dermatitis to Arteritis

Cannabis use has been associated with multiple dermatological conditions including allergic contact dermatitis, urticaria, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and cannabis-induced arteritis. The endocannabinoid system's role in skin homeostasis provides a biological basis for these reactions, which remain underrecognized and underreported in clinical practice.

Traditional narrative review sourcing peer-reviewed articles from PubMed and Scopus published between 2000 and 2024, selecting studies that directly addressed dermatological outcomes of cannabis use.

As cannabis use increases, clinicians need to recognize it as a potential cause of skin conditions. Many of these reactions may be misdiagnosed because cannabis is not considered as an etiologic agent.

This review highlights an underappreciated aspect of cannabis safety. While most cannabis research focuses on respiratory, cognitive, or psychiatric effects, dermatological reactions represent a distinct set of adverse effects that may become more common with increasing use.

Narrative review based primarily on case reports and small case series. No systematic search methodology or quality assessment. Cannot determine incidence rates. Publication bias likely favors unusual or severe reactions.