As many states consider or pass legislation to legalize marijuana, more people in the United States are gaining easy access to weed. While many people consider marijuana a harmless plant with minimal consequences, smoking pot can affect your brain and body in many different ways.
Recently, people have begun to debate whether or not smoking weed can lead to skin problems. Some health and beauty experts believe that marijuana can aggravate the skin, leading to problems, including acne. Others believe smoking weed may actually improve skin’s health.
So, what’s the truth? Does smoking weed cause acne, or can it clear your complexion? This article will explore the claim that smoking weed causes acne and take a look at marijuana’s effects on your body.
Reach out to the Mandala Healing Center specialists to learn more about the short and long-term effects of marijuana use or our holistic substance abuse treatment programs.
Does Smoking Weed Cause Acne?
Marijuana is a naturally occurring plant that contains chemicals that can affect your central nervous system–primarily tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The THC in marijuana gives marijuana users a “high” feeling. It also has hallucinogenic effects, as well as other physical side effects, including dry mouth.
Some people wonder if smoking weed causes acne and other skin problems because smoking tobacco products can severely damage your skin. Tobacco smokers often have dry skin, premature aging, and fine lines around the mouth. Health experts believe that tobacco changes the way collagen production occurs and alters the makeup of collagen itself, leading to severe skin damage over time. Tobacco is also a known carcinogen, and repeated exposure can lead to problems throughout the body–including the skin.
Marijuana use does not seem to affect the skin in the same way smoking tobacco does. Marijuana itself is not a carcinogen, but the smoke from marijuana may contain carcinogens. Over time, exposure to carcinogens can raise the risk of health problems, including premature aging, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
There is little concrete evidence that smoking marijuana causes acne. However, people who smoke weed frequently may have a poor diet or may be less motivated to wash their face or take care of their personal hygiene, which could contribute to skin problems like acne.
The Effects of Smoking Weed
While there is little evidence that smoking weed causes acne, marijuana use can cause other unwanted side effects and risks. Here are some of the harmful effects of smoking marijuana.
1. Depression
Research from the Mayo Clinic showed that people who use marijuana are more likely to be diagnosed with depression than those who do not. There is no clear evidence that marijuana causes depression. However, people may smoke weed to manage the symptoms of their depression. This may give users temporary relief, but the symptoms will often return and can become more severe over time. It’s important to get treatment for the underlying causes of depression instead of self-medicating with marijuana.
2. Anxiety
It may seem counterintuitive that smoking weed can increase your anxiety because it is often associated with relaxation, but this is often the case. The psychoactive compound THC can increase a person’s anxiety levels and can even induce panic–especially when THC is found in high concentrations. People with pre-existing anxiety disorders are at greater risk for an adverse reaction while smoking pot or using edibles. People who do not have an existing anxiety disorder may discover that they feel more anxious when they stop using marijuana.
3. Risk of psychiatric disorders
Research shows that people who use high-potency marijuana every day are five times more likely to develop some form of psychosis when compared to the general population. People with a family history of schizophrenia, psychosis, and other psychiatric disorders should avoid marijuana.
4. Cognitive issues
People often experience short-term memory and psychomotor problems while using cannabis because THC binds to receptors in the brain associated with memory, emotions, and executive functioning. Those who use marijuana regularly may experience long-term, sometimes permanent, memory and cognitive problems.
5. Lung damage
Smoking weed can cause serious, long-term lung damage. Repeated exposure to hot cannabis smoke can damage the fragile tissue in the lungs and airways, leading to chronic cough, inflammation, and decreased functioning. While marijuana is not considered to be as harmful as tobacco smoke, cannabis flowers and stems contain carcinogens. Repeated carcinogen exposure can increase your risk for cancers and other severe complications.
As cannabis products become more widely available across the country, understanding the risks of marijuana use is critical. While there is not a lot of evidence to support the idea that smoking weed causes acne, marijuana use can lead to many other more severe and long-lasting problems.
Find Help Now
If you or someone you love struggles with cannabis use and wants to stop, you are not alone. It can be challenging to stop using marijuana, and many people require support and treatment. Reach out to the Mandala Healing Center specialists now to learn about our holistic marijuana abuse treatment programs or to schedule an intake assessment.