When cannabidiol is taken orally, it needs to pass through your digestive system. In this process, it’s bioavailability is greatly reduced due to the first pass effect, whereby the concentration of the CBD is reduced as it enters the liver.

The exact fraction of CBD’s oral bioavailability for humans has not been specified yet. Most recent studies show a range of 13-19% (1) while other studies find that oral bioavailability is approximately 6%  (2).

Potential Oral CBD Drug Interactions

Additionally, since during the digestion process CBD enters the liver, oral products can potentially have more drug interactions, compared to topical products, which you should keep in mind if you take any other type of oral medication.

Sebaceous glands are located in the skin, which are responsible for the production of an oily and waxy substance known as sebum. This sebum contributes to the formation of the physicochemical barrier, which protects against microbe and other external irritants entering the body. Sebaceous glands misfunction can result in e.g. acne (if glands produce too much sebum) or atopic dermatitis (if glands do not produce enough sebum). CBD has been shown to have a modulatory effect on sebaceous glands, meaning that it can regulate the amount of sebum being produced. This modulatory ability, combined with its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, makes it a promising substance in acne and atopic dermatitis treatment (1).

Pain is an unpleasant feeling brought on by intense or damaging stimuli. Chronic inflammatory disease can lead to pain, which can make day to day life of patients unbearable. Cannabidiol has been shown to have an analgesic effect (4), and since it helps to reduce the inflammation and ease the itch, it can lead to a long-term relief from the pain of the lesions. Moreover, cannabinoids may be especially effective in inhibiting chronic pain in comparison to the acute pain.