What are CBD Patches and How Do They Work?

Posted by Emily Ledger on November 19th, 2020

CBD patches are like pain-relieving patches that you can peel and stick anywhere on your skin. It is almost similar in size and appearance to a plaster. It contains a specific dose of cannabidiol molecules infused in a solution, gel, or oil. Recently, the patches made by various CBD companies have introduced a patch with a 10mg dosage of cannabinoids. These kinds of patches are nowadays widely used to relieve symptoms of chronic issues such as pain and anxiety. This product is transdermal-based technology that causes a small amount of CBD release through your skin and into your bloodstream. 

Working of CBD transdermal patch

You can use the CBD patch to apply it on your skin's venous part, like on the top of your arm, ankle, or the inside of your wrist. Once you apply the patch to your skin, your body heat activates a drug concentration gradient. It means that the patch contains a high concentration of CBD and your skin has a low concentration of CBD. The permeation enhancers help move the cannabinoids out of the patch and into your body. As it makes a way into your bloodstream, it allows your body to process the compounds. Consequently, it bypasses your lungs, liver, and stomach. Though it stimulates the 'first-pass effect,' it tends to deliver even more active ingredients to your system.

First pass effect on the body

When you take CBD orally, it tends to have a 'first-pass effect.' As it passes through your digestive system, the compounds enter the liver and act as a filter for anything leaving the stomach and intestines. The filtration will lead to a loss of some CBD amount before it gets absorbed by your body. However, the transdermal application of CBD allows bypassing the lever and eventually allowing better bioavailability. Here, the higher fraction of cannabinoid-infused in the patch effectively comes into use by your body. The CBD patches containing a precise dose in a small package will slowly release in the next 24 hours.

Today, CBD patches help relieve inflammation, arthritis, depression, anxiety, or sleeping issues. According to researches, these patches offer a better option than ingesting cannabinoids orally. You should apply the patch to a soft skin area instead of irregular skin areas for maximum advantage. And if you are using it for treating pain, it needs to be close to the afflicted area.