Canadian Patients Turning To Cannabis To Treat Chronic Skin Condition

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic autoinflammatory skin condition that results in the suffering patient developing painful bumps or boils, tunnels, and abscesses under their skin. The condition is often referred to as ‘acne inversa.’

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for hidradenitis suppurativa. Common treatments include using skin care products such as antiperspirants, antiseptic washes, and retinoids. In severe cases, pain management therapies and medications are also incorporated.

A team of researchers in Canada recently conducted a scientific literature review and found that a growing number of suffering hidradenitis suppurativa patients are turning to medical cannabis products to treat their condition. Below is more information about the review and its findings via a new release from NORML:

Vancouver, Canada: Patients diagnosed with the skin condition Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS aka acne inversa) frequently consume cannabis products and report that they improve their quality of life, according to a literature review published in the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. HS is a chronic skin condition characterized by the reoccurring formation of small painful lumps under the skin, typically in the armpit and groin.

Researchers affiliated with the University of British Columbia and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota reviewed data from six studies, encompassing 34,435 patients.

They reported, “Findings show higher cannabis use among HS patients, demonstrating efficacy in pain management, sleep, anxiety relief, itch relief, and improved quality of life.”

The study’s authors concluded: “Cannabis may play a role in analgesia, improved quality of life, pain, itch, and overall mental health in patients with HS and healthcare providers including dermatologists should increase their familiarity in appropriate use of cannabis-related products. … Efforts to reduce the stigma of utilizing cannabis-related products for medical purposes, education, and open discussion about the harms of illicit substances with patients are highly encouraged.”

Full text of the study, “Evaluation of cannabis-related product use among patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A narrative review,” appears in the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery.