RSO Topical Methods: How to Use It on Skin

Plenty of patients buy RSO and never eat a drop of it. They rub it on. Knees, hands, lower back, the spot on the shoulder that never quite settles down. Used this way it behaves like any other cannabis topical, only stronger, because you’re starting with a full-spectrum concentrate instead of a diluted lotion.

And no, it won’t get you high. That’s usually the first question.

Why it stays local

Skin is a barrier. Cannabinoids are large, oily molecules and very little of the THC in a topical makes it through intact skin into the bloodstream. What does get through is absorbed by the tissue right there, where there are plenty of receptors to interact with.

So RSO topical use is local by design. You can use it in the afternoon and go about your day. The exception is mucous membranes, meaning eyes, nose, mouth and similar. Keep it away from those, both because it stings and because absorption there is a different story.

Don’t use it straight

Raw RSO on skin is a bad time. It’s thick, it doesn’t spread, it’s dark enough to stain, and a dot the size of a pea is more than you’d ever need on one spot. It also ends up on your sheets, your steering wheel and the dog.

The fix is to blend it into a carrier. That does three things: spreads the dose evenly, makes it easy to apply, and makes it go a long way.

Three carriers that work

An unscented balm or salve. Anything with a beeswax or shea base. Warm the balm gently until it’s soft, push in your RSO, stir until the color is even, let it set. Best for targeted spots.

Coconut or MCT oil. Melt a few tablespoons, stir in the RSO, pour into a small jar. It’ll be a soft solid at room temperature, an oil when warm. Good for larger areas.

A plain lotion you already own. Warm a small amount, mix in a smaller dose of RSO. It won’t blend as perfectly as an oil base, but it’s the least effort and works fine for daily use.

Warm the syringe in a cup of warm water for ten minutes first, whichever carrier you choose. Cold RSO won’t mix into anything.

How strong to make it

A quarter gram of RSO into two ounces of carrier is a common starting strength. At 70% THC that’s about 175 mg spread through the whole jar, which is plenty to notice and mild enough to use every day.

Patients who want more punch go to half a gram in the same two ounces. Beyond that you start wasting oil, since the skin can only take in so much at once.

Label the jar. It looks like every other balm on the shelf and someone in your house will eventually pick it up.

Using it

Clean, dry, intact skin. Rub in a small amount until it disappears, then wash your hands. Most people feel something within 15 to 30 minutes and reapply every few hours as they like. There’s no peak to wait for and no hangover.

A lot of our regulars keep the jar by the bed and use it on hands or feet before sleep, alongside whatever they take by mouth. That combination shows up a lot.

What it’s not for

Open cuts, rashes you haven’t had looked at, anything infected. Topicals are for intact skin. If you’re dealing with a skin condition, talk to someone who treats skin conditions before you add anything to the routine.

If you’d rather skip the mixing, we usually carry ready-made topicals from local producers. Ask at the counter and we’ll show you what’s in stock and how strong each one is.

This is general information from people who sell and use these products, not medical advice. If you take other medications or have a health condition, talk to your doctor before adding cannabis. Keep every product away from children and pets.