Medical Cannabis Benefits for Dermatology A Systematic Review of the Literature

Jeffrey Chavez Luna

Co-Presenters: Yaritza Cabrera

College: The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology

Major: Biology

Faculty Research Mentor: Rana Zeine

Abstract:

Treatment of skin cancer, skin wounds, autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, and other hypersensitivity dermatological conditions may potentially benefit from medical cannabis. Cannabinoids and cannabimimetic compounds are actively being investigated for their anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and analgesic effects. The purpose of this project is to systematically review the efficacy of cannabinoids and cannabimimetic plant extracts for treating pruritus, scaling, eczema, acne, ulcerations, keloids, and neoplastic lesions in animal models, in vitro cell lines, and humans. A systematic review was conducted via literature search through PubMed, EBSCOhost, and ProQuest databases at Kean University Nancy Thompson Library. Twenty-one peer-reviewed articles were retrieved in English and published in the last 3 years. All of the papers were experimental studies. There is strong evidence in support of the role of medical cannabis in enhancing skin healing and inhibiting tumor growth. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of medical cannabis and relented products in human skin. Clinical trials are needed to test their potential in dermatology practice.