Today, we’re going to discuss the effect of marijuana has on your skin, and answer the question ‘does smoking weed cause acne?’ The answer is that yes, smoking weed can cause acne. However, it’s not going to be the only cause for your blemished skin. Cannabis may cause acne because THC promotes testosterone, which causes your skin to produce more sebum (oil). Another reason it may cause acne is that smoking slows collagen production in the skin, so it heals and rejuvenates itself less effectively.
Marijuana may contribute to acne when chronic use depletes vitamins and minerals in the body. Low Vitamin D levels are the primary contributor for this factor. Cannabinoids in marijuana can suppress the function of your immune system, and this can cause breakouts as well. Acne can also be blamed on the types of fatty and sugary foods people choose to eat when they have the munchies.
Let’s have a look at each of these in more detail for a better understanding of how smoking weed can cause acne.
Does Smoking Weed Cause Acne? The THC-Testosterone Link
Smoking marijuana increases floating testosterone levels that prompt your skin to push out excess sebum, resulting in clogged pores. Even though testosterone is the male hormone, it is present in smaller quantities in women too. Therefore, the THC / testosterone connection applies to women too, although much less prominently. When this sebum promotion occurs, acne breakouts may come quickly.
Collagen
Exhaled smoke of any type can contribute to acne when it comes into contact with your facial skin. Hydrocarbons in the smoke are responsible for a slowing down of collagen production. Collagen inhibition is a big part of what’s needed to be understood by anyone questioning does smoking weed cause acne.
Lower collagen levels will cause the skin to heal less quickly, and this applies to acne too in that acne pimples don’t clear up in the same way they would if collagen levels were normal. Popped zits in particular heal very poorly, and scarring from them can be more severe if collagen levels are low. In addition, smoking of any sort also makes the skin dry and can speed the aging process.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Smoking copious amounts of marijuana regularly can lead to depletion of vitamins and minerals to the point that there are adverse health effects. Vitamin D is the most relevant of those that can become depleted, and most essential for healthy skin. A vitamin D deficiency can manifest itself in any number of skin ailments, and acne is one of them.
Plentiful vitamin D levels help promote clear and blemish-free skin, but this factor is only going to be a potential cause of acne for heavy users.
Suppressed Immune System
Appetite stimulation is a well-known side effect of consuming THC. The ‘munchies’ can be a factor in developing acne. That’s not really because of the cravings themselves, but rather the types of foods that most people eat to satisfy those cravings.
THC fires up the olfactory bulb in your brain, and this makes food smell and taste better. Pair that with the human body’s natural attraction to fats and sweets and it’s very easy to want to quell your munchies with foods that lead to clogged pores. If you’re the type who’s all about gorging yourself on high-fat foods and sweets when you’re high, then you shouldn’t be too surprised if you develop acne.
Tips to Prevent Acne for Marijuana Users:
- Drink plenty of water
- Use a moisturizer
- Take vitamin D supplements and probiotics – probiotics help improve immune system function
- Choose healthy snacks for the munchies
- Consider ingesting marijuana without smoking it
