With the growing awareness of the harmful effects of smoking and cigars on one’s health, the usage of electronic cigarettes, also referred to as “e-cigarettes” or “vaping,” is becoming more and more popular as a substitute.
Vaping is the process of inhaling nicotine vaporised, frequently with flavourings added to enhance flavour. Over the past ten years, its popularity has grown, particularly among teens and young adults.
Although there is an increasing demand for more research, the practise is currently thought to be healthier than smoking. Specifically, there are worries that vaping might be harmful to one’s lungs in addition to overall health and wellbeing. Addicting nicotine is still present in vapes, and unregulated e-cigarettes may contain illegal fluids, which is a concern.
In addition, there’s growing apprehension that vaping negatively impacts the appearance and wellness of skin. This is due to the fact that vaping involves a number of substances that come into close contact with the hands and face in addition to nicotine.
“”Vaping can have multiple detrimental effects on the skin,” says Emma Wedgwood, a nurse and the creator of Emma Wedgwood Aesthetics. “The chemicals in e-cigarettes have the potential to reduce collagen formation, which can cause sagging skin, wrinkles, and fine lines to appear earlier than they otherwise would. Inflammation from vaping may also result in skin irritation, redness, and sensitivity.
Sensitive skin types or those with rosacea may experience adverse effects sooner or more prominently as a result, particularly in the areas closest to the lips, eyes, and hands where the vapours are most likely to come into contact.
Furthermore, there are indications that vaping and smoking may have very comparable skin-related effects, particularly with regard to discoloration. “E-cigarettes containing nicotine have the potential to cause vasoconstriction, which can disrupt blood flow and lead to a variety of skin-related issues, including dryness and discolouration,” states Wedgwood. Furthermore, vaping might cause the skin to become dry and lifeless by dehydrating it.
Similar to smoking, the frequency of vaping, the length of inhalation, and the duration of use are all likely to have an impact on the degree of harm. For this reason, doctors who specialise in aesthetics as well as general practise may find it especially concerning that teens are drawn to the practise.
However, Wedgwood notes that further research is necessary to completely understand any potential negative effects because the effects of vaping on the skin are still relatively new.
Because of this, cosmetic physicians ought to be up to date on any fresh research on vaping so that they can appropriately counsel their patients. To ensure clarity and optimise treatment outcomes, it may also be wise to make sure that any lifestyle consultation forms include a question regarding the usage of e-cigarettes and vaping. Nowadays, it’s common to ask, “Do you smoke, including the use of e-cigarettes or vapes?” but eventually, it might be necessary to ask the two questions apart.
If you are facing any of the challenges mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will see what we can do to assist you.