Itchy, irritated skin is a source of great discomfort for a large number of Americans. A 2016 study estimated that 1 in 5 people will experience chronic itching at some point in their lives, and this frustrating condition can make it difficult for them to live comfortably in their own skin. 

Fortunately, new evidence suggests that cannabis may in fact be an effective remedy.

The Methodology 

The study in question came from a group of researchers working out of the John Hopkins School of Medicine, and was published in April of 2021 in the medical journal JAMA Dermatology. The team partnered with a volunteer patient who had been living with the symptoms of chronic pruritus — a condition characterized by persistent, heavy itchiness — for more than ten years. Under their careful direction, the female patient tried several alternative treatments to try to remedy the itchy spots and blemishes. They included topical corticosteroids, phototherapy, topical capsaicin, and even butorphanol nasal spray. None proved effective.

From there, the group moved on to a brand-new form of treatment: medical cannabis. Researchers instructed the patient to use high-THC cannabis flower or a specialty tincture that contained a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD at least twice a week for several months. She consumed both products orally.

“With the increased utilization of medical marijuana and our knowledge of the role of the endocannabinoid system in chronic itch, we decided to try medical marijuana with a patient who failed several therapies and had few options left,” said Shawn Kwatra, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Switching to Cannabis

The results of the treatment seem quite promising. Within ten minutes of ingesting the cannabis products, the patient reported a massive decrease in her level of itchiness. Using a highly specialized gradient known as the Worst Itch Numeric Rating Scale (WI-NRS), the patient reported moving from a “10/10 itchy rating” to a 4/10 initially. Eventually she dropped all the way to a 0/10 itchy rating. In short, her reported itchiness went away entirely after prolonged cannabis use, which occurred over the course of 14 months.

The patient also did not report any adverse reactions to taking the cannabis products, and was able to get rid of her other itch-related medications shortly after treatment ended.

The science of why this occurred is still not entirely clear. However, the research team is confident the answer involves cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system. One protein in particular, TRPV1, is able to mediate the itchy sensation in the body. Researchers noted that ingested cannabinoids interact with this protein, and this activation may be the driving force behind the reduction in itchiness. 

Takeaways 

The results of this study are promising when it comes to chronic itchiness and cannabis. However, the research team is cautious, and won’t make any assertions until they have more data. The next step in their eyes is to perform a similar study with a larger sample group. They hope to also control more of the variables in order to increase confidence in the outcome.

For cannabis advocates, these results bolster the argument that cannabis should be more widely explored in medical contexts. If these compounds are truly capable of treating chronic itching disorders, who knows what other useful applications sit undiscovered. 

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