Vaping has become increasingly common, yet less is known about the impact of vapes versus cigarettes on the skin. We get the expert lowdown.
What is vaping?
Vaping is the inhalation of vaporised nicotine, often infused with flavourings to improve the taste. It has become increasingly popular over the last decade, especially among teenagers and young adults.
Vaping is widely considered to be better for your health than smoking cigarettes, but there’s demand for more research.
Concerns have been raised that vaping could have negative effects on the lungs as well as general health.
Vapes still contain nicotine, which is an addictive substance and there is now increasing concern that vaping can have a detrimental effect on skin health and appearance.
Is vaping bad for your skin?
Vapes contain chemicals, alongside nicotine, which come in direct contact with the face and hands meaning they affect the skin.
’Vaping can have negative effects on the skin in several ways,” explains Emma Wedgwood, a nurse and founder of Emma Wedgwood Aesthetics in London.
“The chemicals in e-cigarettes can lead to a decrease in collagen production, which can result in premature ageing such as wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin. Vaping may cause inflammation too, which can lead to skin irritation, redness, and sensitivity.”
People who have sensitive skin or conditions such as rosacea could see negative side effects more quickly or noticeably as a result, especially around the lips, eyes, and hands, which have the most contact with the vapours.
Is vaping better for your skin than smoking?
There are also signs that vaping’s effect on the skin could be very similar to smoking, especially in terms of discolouration.
“Nicotine in e-cigarettes can cause vasoconstriction, which can disrupt blood flow, causing a range of skin-related problems, such as dryness and discolouration,” says Wedgwood. “In addition, vaping can dehydrate the skin, leading to dryness and dullness.”
As with smoking, the level of harm is likely to be linked to depend on how often a vape is used, as well as the length of inhalation and the number of years someone is a vape user. That’s why the popularity of vaping among teenagers may be particularly worrying.
However, “it's important to note that research into the effects of vaping on the skin is still relatively new, and further studies are needed to fully understand the potential side effects,” concludes Wedgwood.
For that reason, beauty and aesthetics professionals should keep up to date with studies into vaping so that they can help educate their clients.
Likewise, it makes sense to include a question about use of e-cigarettes and vaping on pre-treatment consultations forms to help maximise treatment results.
Common phrasing currently includes "do you smoke, including the use of e-cigarettes or vapes?", although, over time, separating the two questions may be sensible.