Sustainable Utilisation and Resilience of Industrial Hemp Supply Chains: A Systematic Review of Advancing Skin Health Through Anti-Inflammatory Nutraceuticals for Acne Treatment

Industrial hemp flower oil has gathered attention in the nutraceutical field for its anti-inflammatory properties beneficial to skin health, particularly in acne treatment. Acne vulgaris, primarily characterised by inflammation and sebaceous gland hyperactivity, has been shown to respond to hemp-derived compounds like cannabidiol (CBD). Systematic literature indicates that CBD and hemp flower extracts modulate inflammatory pathways by down-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8, thereby reducing erythema and inflammation in acne lesions. Clinical studies involving topical applications of hemp flower oil formulations demonstrated significant reductions in inflammatory acne lesions and overall acne severity, with improved tolerability and safety profiles for patients. Methods involve twice-daily topical treatments, evaluated through lesion counts and inflammatory markers over several weeks. Results consistently report decreased inflammatory lesions, reduced sebum production and inhibited growth of Cutibacterium acnes, the acne-associated bacteria. Conclusively, industrial hemp flower oil emerges as a promising natural anti-inflammatory nutraceutical alternative for acne management, offering multi-targeted effects with minimal adverse reactions, thereby addressing key pathological factors such as inflammation, oxidative stress and sebocyte activity. However, further large-scale randomised clinical trials are encouraged to standardise formulations and verify long-term efficacy and safety in diverse populations.