Last updated: October 2026
There’s little evidence that CBD helps eczema. In a 2022 placebo-controlled trial, a CBD-only cream did barely better than placebo, though a cream combining CBD with another ingredient did help. Small, uncontrolled studies report less itch. Emollients and treatments from your GP remain the proven approach, and fragrances in some CBD creams can make eczema worse.
Below: what the research shows, choosing a skin product if you try CBD, safety, and what the NHS recommends.
Does CBD help eczema? The research
| Study | What it found |
|---|---|
| Placebo-controlled trial, 2022 (57 people, 2 weeks) | CBD alone improved scores by 0.81 points versus 0.71 for placebo; a CBD plus aspartame cream did better (1.28) |
| Cannabinoid gel, 2020 (observational) | Users with sensitive dry skin reported less itch; no comparison group |
| Lab studies | CBD calms some inflammatory signals in skin cells |
Promising lab results haven’t yet translated into convincing human trials. See CBD for skin and CBD for psoriasis.
If you want to try a CBD cream
- Keep using your emollients and prescribed treatments. Don’t swap them for CBD.
- Choose fragrance-free, without essential oils, which commonly irritate eczema.
- Patch test on unaffected skin for 48 hours.
- Avoid broken, weeping or infected skin.
- Children: we don’t recommend CBD products for children. See CBD and children.
Taking CBD by mouth hasn’t been shown to help eczema. Our balm is designed for muscles and joints, not eczema-prone skin.
What helps eczema
| Treatment | Details |
|---|---|
| Emollients | Used generously and often, every day, even when skin is clear |
| Topical steroids | For flare-ups, as prescribed |
| Avoiding triggers | Soaps, fragrances, wool, heat, stress, certain fabrics |
| Other treatments | Antihistamines for itch at night, or specialist treatments for severe eczema |
Stress and poor sleep can make eczema itch worse. See natural sleep aids.
When to see a GP
iSee a GP if eczema is affecting sleep or daily life, isn’t improving with emollients, or looks infected: weeping, crusting, hot, painful or spreading quickly. Urgent advice is needed if painful blisters appear suddenly, especially in a child.
We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Related guides
- Stress rash and hives: what to do.
- Nigella sativa (black seed) oil and the small hand eczema trial.
- For the basics that help most, see our guide to dry skin: lotion vs cream vs ointment and a winter routine.
- Not sure whether it’s eczema or psoriasis? See psoriasis vs eczema: how to tell.
- For types, triggers and NHS treatment advice, see our full guide to eczema.
Sources 3
- Gao Y et al. Cannabidiol aspartame combination treatment (JW-100) in atopic dermatitis: a randomized placebo-controlled study. J Cosmet Dermatol, 2022.
- Maghfour J et al. An observational study of the application of a topical cannabinoid gel on sensitive dry skin. J Drugs Dermatol, 2020.
- NHS. Atopic eczema.
