Top Tips for Using Weed Topicals

Cannabis comes in almost uncountable forms, but emerging as one of the most popular options of late is topicals. Topicals take the form of products applied to the skin, not ingested or inhaled; they are commonly available in health and beauty stores with CBD, but THC formulations exist in dispensaries.

While it isn’t exactly possible to use topicals wrong — as long as you aren’t eating them or applying them anywhere that isn’t skin — there are ways to make sure topicals are having the best possible effects. Here are a few tips to ensure you make the most of whatever weed topicals you try:

Know Where You Need Relief

The skin’s job is to protect the delicate internal workings of the body from the ever-changing and sometimes-toxic external environment, and the skin wouldn’t be doing a good job if it allowed every substance it brushed up against to reach the bloodstream. Thus, when you apply cannabis topicals to your skin such as CBD Balm, you won’t experience the same all-over, mind-and-body effects that you would if you inhaled or ingested cannabis; the skin only allows the compounds in the topical to seep into the surrounding tissues.

You need to be specific with your application of weed topicals to ensure they provide the relief you desire. Because topicals won’t reach your blood or brain, you shouldn’t try to use them for alleviating anxiety; instead, you should think about places on your body where you feel joint pain, muscle aches, muscle tension and the like. Topicals can also be beneficial in treating skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

Generally, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor about how topicals might help (or harm!) your health condition. If you have a medical marijuana card in a state like Maryland, you can visit a dispensary and ask budtenders for recommendations of topical products to address your ailments. If you live in a place where recreational marijuana has been legalized, you can visit any weed shop and receive advice.

Apply Only to Clean, Dry Skin

Topicals can be blocked or contaminated by the stuff that accumulates on your skin throughout the day, like dead skin cells, dirt, bacteria and more. You want to give your topicals the best chance at permeating the skin and sinking deep into your tissues, which means you will need to give your skin a good cleaning before you apply. This isn’t to say you always need a full shower and exfoliation session before you use your topicals; a damp washcloth will probably do the trick, unless it has been a few days since your last full-body rinse.

Massage the Product Into Skin

Massage does more than break up scar tissue and alleviate tension. By massaging your tissues, you improve your circulation in the area which can have healing effects on its own. Some skincare experts believe that massaging your skin in small circles helps to open pores and work topicals deeper into the skin, where they can have greater impact. At the very least, a small massage will make the experience of applying your topicals a bit more luxurious.

Repeat Applications 2 or 3 Times

It isn’t typical for topicals to have high doses of cannabinoids within them, so if your pain or discomfort is rather severe, you might need to reapply more than once to feel sufficient relief. Once the first application has seeped into your skin, you can add additional layers of topical for more noticeable effects.

However, you should also consider adjusting your expectations. Cannabis has powerful and beneficial effects, but it isn’t a miracle cure. If you suffer from a serious and debilitating condition, like rheumatoid arthritis, weed topicals should help manage your pain, but it might not eliminate your pain entirely. Again, it is wise to talk to your doctor and budtenders to better understand what to expect from topical treatments.

Wash Your Hands Afterwards

Whatever comes into contact with the weed topicals will experience their effects — and after a few applications, product will start to build up on your hands and cause them to tingle. It is a good idea to wash your hands throughout the process of applying your topical, unless you need pain and tension relief on your hands and wrists. Otherwise, the feelings on your hands could be overwhelming and distracting, preventing you from going about your normal business.

Because topicals don’t get you high, you can use them without fear of drug testing, overdosing or any other potentially dangerous ramification. You might as well try out a topical or two — but you should use the above tips to ensure they treat you right.