How vaping affects the skin: expert opinion

Dermatologists aren’t ready to talk about what’s happening to your psyche from vaping, but they’re ready to tell you how your skin changes.

“When vaping, you inhale nicotine, formaldehyde, propylene glycol, toluene, acetaldehyde, cadmium, nickel and lead. Ultimately, they will settle into the skin and affect its function and condition,” says physician and cosmetologist Mervin Patterson. This is what happens if you overload yourself with toxins.

“Nicotine causes the small blood vessels to constrict, which limits the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the skin cells. This leads to the fact that it begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely,” explains the Dr Patterson.

“Vaping can affect wound healing as much as smoking – recent evidence suggests e-cigarettes cause the same physiological changes as conventional cigarettes,” says dermatologist Sonia Khorana. According to her, this is due not only to nicotine, but also to glycerin and flavorings, which are part of e-liquids. “In recent years, there has also been an increase in cases of vaping-related contact dermatitis,” adds Sonia.

According to cosmetologist Bianka Mihalekova, vaping can also make dry skin worse and increase inflammation. “It’s because of the chemicals and the nicotine coming into contact with it,” she says. The ingredients in the liquid, Bianca says, can also make the skin sensitive and cause breakouts.

“Propylene glycol can cause skin irritation and nicotine can increase sebum production. All together, this increases the likelihood of clogged pores, inflammation and the appearance of acne, the traces of which, due to the same vaping, will disappear for longer,” says Dr. Horana.

If you quit smoking, your skin condition will improve. “This will happen when circulation, skin oxygenation and new cell production return to normal. You will also avoid further damage,” says Sonya. However, she advises smokers to be realistic: if a woman has been vaping for many years, so even the best skincare products will not be able to repair all the damage.