Does Vaping Cause Acne?

Over the last few decades, there has been some research suggesting that smoking causes acne. There’s even such a thing as "smoker's acne." Given how similar smoking and vaping are, it's not surprising that vapers are concerned about whether vaping causes acne, too. Well, does it?

Does Vaping Cause Acne?

Over the last few decades, there has been some research suggesting that smoking causes acne. There’s even such a thing as "smoker's acne." Given how similar smoking and vaping are, it's not surprising that vapers are concerned about whether vaping causes acne, too. Well, does it?

While vaping does not directly cause acne, it may worsen existing acne and increase your risk of breakouts. Generally, not everyone who vapes will develop acne: your susceptibility to the condition is also a big factor.

Come, let's break it all down.

What Causes Acne?

Before going into how vaping contributes to acne, let’s talk about how acne forms.

Acne occurs when the skin’s pores get clogged by excess oil and dead skin cells, leading to pimples. Bacteria residing in the skin may also interact with other factors to clog pores.

Big question is, how does vaping interact with the skin that may put you at risk of acne?

Why Does Vaping Cause Acne?

Vaping doesn't directly cause acne. But e-cigarettes contain certain chemicals your skin may react to.

E-cigarettes, aka vapes, contain liquids made up of several chemicals, including:

· Nicotine

· Propylene glycol (PG)

· Vegetable glycerin (VG)

· And flavorings that give the sweet tastes users all over the globe have come to love.

Propylene glycol, an ingredient in vape liquid, can draw moisture from your skin and cause dryness. Your skin starts producing more oil to compensate. And when your skin overproduces oil, there's a good chance of clogging the pores, leading to acne.

That's not all.

Studies show that nicotine, an ingredient in vape juice, tightens blood vessels, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen your skin receives. Poor circulation can make your skin more prone to breakouts and slower to heal existing acne.

There's good news here, though. Vapes come in different levels of nicotine. Some high, some as low as 5%. You can protect yourself by opting for vapes with little or no nicotine content.

Moreover, not every vaper will experience acne. It is those naturally more susceptible to acne who have more to worry about.

E-cigarettes also contain many other chemicals such as:

· Diacetyl (for flavoring)

· Heavy metals, including nickel, tin, and lead

· Cadmium

· Benzene

· Diethylene glycol.

Although these ingredients do not clog your pores in any way, some studies suggest they can irritate the skin, which may lead to inflammation and possible breakouts in at-risk individuals.

Again, your genes are a big factor in whether or not you'll experience acne from vaping.

How Does Vaping Cause Acne?

Research shows that exposure to nicotine in e-cigarettes can trigger inflammatory pathways in the body. This inflammation can show up in your skin, making it more prone to acne. However, you can counter this by choosing low-nicotine or zero-nicotine vapes.

But beyond inflammation, the harsh chemicals in vapes can affect your skin’s microbiome, which is the group of bacteria that helps keep your skin healthy.

Disturbing this balance can create an environment where acne-causing bacteria can thrive.

There's more.

One study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found a link between smoking (including e-cigarettes) and delayed wound healing, likely due to nicotine-induced oxygen deficiency. Ultimately, when your skin can't heal as fast, existing acne may worsen.

Vaping can also dehydrate the skin barrier. If this happens, bacteria and other irritants will find it easier to penetrate, raising the odds of breakouts.

All that combined with the excess oil produced to counter dehydration caused by propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, it's not hard to see why vaping is linked to pimples.

That said, e-cigarette is a new technology, and studies into how it affects us are still in their infancy. There is yet not enough research evidence showing that vaping causes acne.

What we know about the relationship between vaping and acne is more or less what data shows about the individual ingredients.

It's worth noting that individual factors play a role too. If you're already prone to acne, vaping may simply add another trigger. Whereas some people might not see any noticeable changes in their complexion. Your unique genetics, skincare, and even your diet can all influence how vaping impacts your skin.

Does Vaping Make Your Skin Break Out?

The short answer is: it can. While no existing study proves vaping directly causes acne, there’s enough evidence to suggest that vaping can contribute to skin issues, some of which may involve breakouts.

I've come across vapers online and offline who report more breakouts compared to when they didn’t vape. Although this is mere anecdotal evidence, it's worth checking out by researchers.

And it's definitely worth keeping in mind.

We must also acknowledge that aside from acne breakouts, vaping may contribute to other skin issues.

Every time you vape, you deprive your facial skin of oxygen (unless you're opting for zero-nicotine vapes). The impact can add up over time and speed up the aging process.

What’s more, it's not uncommon for e-liquid to spill on your skin, and because it contains diethylene glycol, a known irritant, you may experience skin irritation.

Vape juice also contains benzene. Benzene can cause tissue irritation, typically discoloration and blisters after skin contact.

So you want to handle your e-cigarettes with care.

Will My Face Clear Up If I Stop Vaping?

Your face will clear up if you stop vaping, only if it is contributing to your acne breakout. That's because you're parting ways with the triggers (nicotine, propylene glycol, and other irritants).

But whether or not vaping is indeed fuelling your acne, it can be wise to stop.

At least, you'll find out if vaping was truly the culprit.

However, everyone’s skin heals at its own pace. While it may take months for skin inflammation to subside and pores to clear, some people see improvement in a few weeks.

Quitting vaping is not the only acne solution, though. In short, as we've seen, vaping may not even be the cause of your breakouts. Stress, diet, and hormones can be involved.

If you’re battling with acne, get a good anti-acne skincare routine, stay hydrated, and manage stress. Doing so can speed up the healing process.

How to Prevent Acne While Vaping?

So, what if you’re not ready to quit vaping altogether? Maybe you vape as a way to gradually quit smoking, so you can't risk stopping at this point. Can you still avoid acne while continuing to vape?

Well, yes. Technically.

If you're not prone to acne in the first place, you may be able to continue vaping without experiencing acne in the future.

Another way to avoid acne while vaping is to stick to low-nicotine or zero-nicotine vapes. You can find these vapes at VapingLand.

Below are other helpful tips to prevent acne:

· Hydrate your skin by drinking water regularly.

· Use a gentle cleanser to clear off excess oil and impurities.

· Eat foods rich in antioxidants (they help fight off inflammation).

· Since stress is a major acne trigger, managing it can help you keep breakouts at bay.

Conclusion

So, does vaping cause acne? Not directly, but it can contribute to breakouts or worsen existing acne, especially if you’re already prone. Vaping introduces nicotine and other ingredients that can dry out your skin and increase oil production, resulting in acne. But everyone’s skin is different, and some vape users may not experience any skin issues at all.

If you are susceptible to breakouts and worry that vaping may ruin your complexion, you might want to consider using zero nicotine vapes. That’s, of course, if you can’t quit altogether.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is vaping better for skin than smoking?

The ingredients in vapes may restrict the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the face, potentially leading to a dull complexion and aging, just as you'd experience with smoking. But vaping doesn't expose your skin to as much harm as smoking.

Is it better for you to vape or smoke cigarettes?

Smoking directly exposes you to tobacco and smoke, and it's known to cause lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and harmful reproductive health effects. Meanwhile, most experts agree that vaping is likely less harmful than smoking because it eliminates combustion, and there's currently no evidence proving it has harmful long-term effects.

Does vaping cause cystic acne?

There's no evidence linking vaping to cystic acne, but it can contribute to inflammation and excess sebum production, which are factors in cystic acne. If you're prone to cystic acne, vaping might worsen it.

Does vaping affect sperm?

Nicotine in vapes and cigarettes can reduce sperm production and quality. But you can considerably lower your risks by opting for low or zero-nicotine vapes.