Novel CBD Cream Shows Promise in Protecting Skin from UV-A Damage in First-Ever In-Human Trial

Adam Friedman, MD

Photo courtesy of The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

A topical cream containing nanoencapsulated cannabidiol (nCBD) reduced UV-A–induced markers of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage in healthy adults, according to a pilot randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.1

“[CBD], having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties via regulation of nuclear erythroid 2erelated factor, heme oxygenase 1, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-g) activity, is a promising prospective compound to mitigate damage associated with UV-A exposure,” investigators wrote.1

The nCBD cream used in the study, developed by MINO Labs, enhances bioavailability through increased surface-to-volume ratio, improved skin penetration, and stabilized degradation kinetics. This nanoparticle formulation aims to address limitations associated with conventional CBD applications by facilitating more effective delivery of CBD to skin tissues, thereby potentially maximizing its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits against UV-A-induced damage.1

"CBD has a volume of supporting evidence in the literature for enumerable skin benefits, however the translation to the bottle in your hand has been limited due to its ability to actually get into the skin. The innovative delivery system used in this product, Z-pods™, fills that gap and now allows us to take full advantage of the incredible potential CBD has to offer," Adam Friedman, MD, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and coinventor of the Z-pod™ technology, said in a press release.2

The prospective, double-blind study (NCT05279495) enrolled 20 participants with Fitzpatrick skin types I to III, 19 of whom completed the trial. Participants applied either nCBD or vehicle control (VC) cream to randomized buttock sites twice daily for 14 days, followed by UV-A exposure to both sites. Skin biopsies were obtained 24 hours later for histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular analyses.1

nCBD-treated skin showed significantly less UV-A–induced epidermal hyperplasia compared with VC-treated sites (mean change from baseline: 11.3% vs 28.7%; P = .01). Immunohistochemistry revealed a reduced UV-associated increase in nuclear and cytoplasmic 8-oxoguanine glycosylase (OGG1)—a marker of oxidative DNA damage and repair—in the nCBD group (mean Δ%cells with OGG1 expression: 1.8% vs 16.1%; P = .026).1

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity was also better preserved in the nCBD group. Real-time PCR demonstrated significantly lower UV-A–induced deletions of two mtDNA genes: ND4 (4977 bp “common deletion”; P = .003) and ND1 (3895 bp deletion; P = .002). These deletions are associated with chronic UV damage and photoaging.1

Although the visual reduction in erythema was modest—21% of participants had less erythema on nCBD-treated skin—the molecular findings suggest a potential protective effect against subclinical photodamage.1

“Topically applied nCBD cream reduced UV-A–induced formation of a frequent mutagenic nuclear DNA base lesion and protected against mtDNA mutations associated with UV-A–induced skin aging,” Friedman and colleagues concluded. “To our knowledge, this trial is the first to identify UV-protective capacity of CBD-containing topicals in humans.”1

Authors note that the small sample size and absence of comparison to standard UV-A protective agents such as sunscreen limit generalizability. Further studies in diverse skin types and with active comparators are warranted.1

References:

1. Friedman A, McCormick E, Han H, et al. Topical nanoencapsulated cannabidiol cream as an innovative strategy combating UV-A-induced nuclear and mitochondrial DNA injury: A pilot randomized clinical study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;91:855-862. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2024.06.088

2. MINO Labs Publishes First-Ever Human Clinical Trial Demonstrating Protective Benefits of CBD Cream Against UVA-Induced Skin Damage--Offering New Hope for Fighting Skin Cancer and Photoaging. News release. MINO Labs. May 22, 2025. Accessed May 22, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mino-labs-publishes-first-ever-human-clinical-trial-demonstrating-protective-benefits-of-cbd-cream-against-uva-induced-skin-damageoffering-new-hope-for-fighting-skin-cancer-and-photoaging-302450635.html