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Do CBD creams work?

There is little evidence they do. Very little CBD passes through the skin, and two small trials found no meaningful effect of CBD cream or gel on muscle soreness.

Facts checked 13 November 20263 min readHow we research

The evidence that CBD creams work is thin. Very little CBD gets through the skin, and the few human trials so far have not shown a clear benefit.12 In Australia a cream containing CBD is a prescription product, not a cosmetic you can lawfully pick up in a shop.3

Does CBD get through the skin?

Not easily. The outer layer of skin is a barrier of flattened cells set in fats. CBD is very strongly fat-loving, and a 2024 review explains that this makes it “an inadequate candidate” for passing through skin on its own, because it builds up in the outer layer.1 No human figure for how much CBD is absorbed through skin has been properly measured.4

So claims that a cream “delivers CBD to the joint” are not supported by measurements.

What have trials found?

Use What the research shows
Muscle soreness and recovery Two randomised pilot studies of CBD cream or gel found no meaningful effect25
Arthritis and joint pain No adequate randomised trial of topical CBD found. Trials of swallowed CBD found no benefit over placebo6
Acne A 368-person trial was run, but no peer-reviewed efficacy results were found7
Eczema and psoriasis A 2023 review rated evidence for cannabinoid products as moderate quality, from small studies of cannabinoid products generally, not CBD creams alone8

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) says there is “limited evidence to support the safety and efficacy of other dosage forms such as sprays, suppositories, topicals and edibles”.9

Why do some people say creams help?

A cream can feel soothing for reasons unrelated to CBD: the massage, the base, or added ingredients such as menthol. Only a trial against the same cream without CBD can separate those effects.

Only on prescription. The pharmacist-only (Schedule 3) entry covers only “oral, oromucosal and sublingual preparations”, so it excludes creams, and the Poisons Standard has no exemption for cosmetics.3 The Australian Border Force has warned that CBD “skin care products” ordered from overseas will be seized.10 See is CBD skincare legal in Australia?

Is it safe?

Any cream can irritate skin or cause an allergy. Keep creams away from pets, and stop pets licking treated skin, especially with products that contain THC. For ongoing pain or a skin condition, a GP can explain the treatments that have held up in trials.

Read the full guide: CBD creams and topicals.

Footnotes

  1. Lefebvre È, Tawil N, Yahia L. Transdermal delivery of cannabidiol for the management of acute inflammatory pain: a comprehensive review of the literature. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11172078/ ↩ ↩2

  2. Randomised pilot study of topical cannabidiol and muscle soreness. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38980809/ ↩ ↩2

  3. Australian Government. Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard, October 2026) Instrument 2026, cannabidiol and cannabis entries. https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01327/asmade/2026-09-30/text/original/pdf ↩ ↩2

  4. Millar SA, et al. Systematic review of the pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in humans, 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30534073/ ↩

  5. Randomised pilot study of topical cannabidiol and recovery after exercise. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41877261/ ↩

  6. Pramhas S, et al. Oral cannabidiol (600 mg a day) for knee osteoarthritis pain, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Regional Health Europe, 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10682664/ ↩

  7. ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT03573518, phase 2 trial of a topical cannabidiol solution in acne. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03573518 ↩

  8. Systematic review of cannabinoid products in skin conditions. Cosmetics, 2023. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/10/5/129/htm ↩

  9. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Consultation: Reviewing the safety and regulatory oversight of unapproved medicinal cannabis products, version 1.0, August 2025. https://consultations.tga.gov.au/medicines-regulation-division/test-soms/user_uploads/final---consultation-paper---medicinal-cannabis-review---august-2025.pdf ↩

  10. Australian Border Force media release, 5 July 2021, as republished by Mirage News. https://www.miragenews.com/increase-in-seizures-prompts-warning-to-590129/ ↩

This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. Laws and evidence change; we show the date we last checked the facts at the top of every page. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.

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