TLDR Version: Marijuana can simultaneously help you look younger thanks to its antioxidants, age you if you’re smoking it, help you lose weight, and may cause acne. That’s quite a mixed bag, but if you think the positives outweigh the negatives then choose wisely in your consumption method to yield the best possible results.

We all know that marijuana is a multifaceted drug with medicinal and relaxation effects. But when it comes to your physical looks, what’s the deal? Like any drug, lifestyle habit, or beauty product, there are pros and cons with continued use. Below, we weigh the positives and negatives associated with cannabis use in terms of its beauty effects.

PRO: Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Aging Agent

Marijuana’s anti-inflammatory benefits make it a great pain reliever, helping to calm throbbing joints and/or muscle inflammation. But it also helps to relieve inflamed skin. That’s right, for sufferers of eczema, rashes, psoriasis, rosacea, and more, cannabis is both a topical medical and beauty product.

But wait, there’s more. Cannabis not only calms skin issues for an improved physical result, it also contains anti-aging properties. Marijuana is chock full of antioxidants that neutralizes the damaging effects of free radical agents (these can include environmental toxins like household chemicals and pollution). The end effect is healthier, younger-looking skin.

CON: Smoking Damages the Skin

Bottom line, smoking anything — cigarettes or weed — damages your lungs and ages your skin. So if the effort is to use cannabis as a beauty aid, then smoking is not the way to go. If you’re looking to prevent the formation of new wrinkles while simultaneously reaping the antioxidant-rich, anti-aging benefits of weed (as mentioned above), then turn your sights to topicals and edibles. Vaping can be a viable option, too. Even though you’re still required to inhale (thus causing those pesky smoker-smile lines, it’s still significantly better than smoking conventionally).   

PRO: Weight Loss Warrior

This seems contradicting to the well-known notion of marijuana causing munchies (thus eating, thus weight gain) — we know, but it’s possibly true! Research has shown that regular marijuana users show slimmer waistlines and lower cholesterol levels. The theory behind the incredible results is cannabis’ most potent ingredient, THC. It’s believed that THC changes your intestinal flora, making your gut healthier and more efficient. This is great news for sufferers of digestion-related issues like IBS and Crohn’s Disease but it’s also fantastic for those looking to regulate their weight while improving overall digestion.

CON: May Cause Acne

Bad news, THC increases testosterone levels. Whether you smoke it, vape it, or ingest it, the testorone hit is immediate. This means that an increase in testosterone level increases skin’s oil glands, triggering it to produce more sebum oil. The end effect is increased breakouts in people predisposed to acne.

Another testosterone side effect can include changes in hair — potential scalp hair thinning and/or excess body hair growth to be specific.

But don’t panic yet. These hair-raising side effects only really come to play when you’re smoking LOADS of marijuana — like, “Nothing any human could smoke.” — Huffington Post.

Too Long Didn’t Read?

Marijuana can simultaneously help you look younger thanks to its antioxidants, age you if you’re smoking it, help you lose weight, and may cause acne. That’s quite a mixed bag but if you think the positives outweigh the negatives then choose wisely in your consumption method to yield the best possible results.