Can vaping cause acne?

Some smokers are put off vaping by fears that switching may cause skin issues such as dry skin and acne, but does vaping actually cause skin problems? The short answer is; no not directly but it can contribute to skin irritation and dryness. Read on for more on your skin's response to vaping and some handy tips to keep your skin in tip top shape while you vape.

• Chemicals in e-liquids: People with sensitive skin may find the chemicals in e-liquids dry their skin out, contributing to breakouts of acne.

• E-liquid residue: E-liquid residue left on your hands can cause acne and irritation, especially if you then accidentally touch particularly sensitive skin like the skin on your face. 

• Dehydration: Nicotine and propylene glycol( an ingredient in the base of e-liquids) can dehydrate the skin, which then compensates by producing excess oil, causing acne breakouts. Nicotine can also constrict blood vessels, making it harder for acne to heal once it does break out.

• Bacteria on the device: Some vapers experience acne breakouts in their mouth area due to bacteria from their device/the mouthpiece being transferred to their skin repeatedly.

Dehydrated skin caused by vaping can have a whole range of negative effects on the skin including the increased visibility of fine lines, dryness, irritation and acne. However the chemicals found in e-liquids are classed as non comedogenic - meaning they do not directly cause any pore clogging associated with the development of acne.

Our top tips to keep your skin healthy when vaping include:

• Drink lots of water: The majority of vaping related skin damage occurs due to dehydration so to help combat this you need to ensure you are drinking plenty of water, both throughout the day and directly after vaping. 

• Apply a good Moisturiser: as well as hydrating your skin through drinking water, you should hydrate your skin with topical treatments like moisturiser and serums. We recommend using a thick moisturiser to stop your skin getting dry as quickly. When it comes to moisturiser go for a simple, non scented option from skincare brands like Simple, Avene, and E45 as moisturiser with scent can further exacerbate issues with your skin.

• Wash your hands after handling e-liquid: Touching your face when your hands still have e-liquid residue on them is a recipe for disaster! Now you don't necessarily have to wash your hands every time you vape but we recommend always washing your hands after directly handling e-liquid, for example after refilling your pod or cleaning your tank.

• Clean your device: Any acne caused by bacteria exposure from your vape device can be easily fixed by keeping it clean. We recommend both deep cleaning your vape once a week and wiping the mouthpiece clean daily. 

• Reduce your nicotine strength: As nicotine is both drying and constricts the blood vessels in your skin, vapers often find their skin improves when they reduce the nicotine content in their e-liquid.