Can Vaping Dehydrate You?

Many vapers find vaping often causes them to experience the uncomfortable effects of dehydration, including extreme thirst, dry mouth, and headaches. So what is this phenomenon? How can vapers avoid experiencing excessive thirst and the other negative effects of dehydration? Read on to find out more about vaping related dehydration and how you can best combat it, especially in the summer where dehydration can be more dangerous.

Why does vaping dehydrate you?

Before we can explain how to avoid the effects of vaping related dehydration, we should first touch upon why it can dehydrate you in the first place. Vaping dehydration is caused by several different factors:

  • Nicotine is a diuretic: Nicotine increases the production of urine, causing you to lose fluids faster.

  • E-liquids contain Hygroscopic ingredients: One of the base ingredients in e-liquid, propylene glycol is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water molecules. Inhaling hygroscopic ingredients like this pulls water from your mouth and throat.

  • Moisture evaporation: The vapour exhaled also causes some of the moisture in your body to evaporate alongside it.

How do you avoid vaping related dehydration?

Some practical steps you can take to avoid dehydration when vaping include:

  • Reduce nicotine content: The higher the nicotine content in your vape juice, the more dehydrated you are likely to be because more nicotine = stronger diuretic effects. Go for low or no nicotine e-liquids to avoid dehydration.

  • Drink lots of water: Take regular sips of water before, during and after vaping on top of the NHS recommended 6-8 glasses of water a day.

  • Limit other diuretic substances when vaping: To avoid dehydration we recommend avoiding other substances with a diuretic effect such as caffeine and alcohol.

  • Opt for high VG e-liquids: Vegetable glycerin is not as dehydrating as propylene glycol. Due to this we recommend opting for high VG shortfill e-liquids wherever possible.

  • Take regular breaks: Stop your mouth from dehydrating too much by taking regular breaks when vaping, allowing you to produce saliva naturally.
frequently asked questions

The effects of dehydration can affect many different parts of your body, including your skin. Vaping reduces the moisture levels in the skin, causing dryness and irritation. To help avoid this drink plenty of water and use a thick, non-scented moisturiser.

Both smoking and vaping are sure to be dehydrating due to the nicotine in both e-liquids and cigarettes, though the propylene glycol in e-liquids are thought to be particularly dehydrating. However, there are not yet enough studies to determine whether vaping is in fact more dehydrating.

One of the most classic symptoms of vaping related dehydration is dry mouth, as your mouth is in direct contact with vapour and e-liquid it feels the effects of dehydration first. Other symptoms may include dizziness, headaches, fatigue and dry skin.

Some of our favourite high VG shortfill e-liquids include Button Junkie`s range, particularly the Vulture Punch flavour, as well as ULTD`s Apple Blow Shortfill.

Yes, propylene glycol draws moisture from its environment.

Yes, vaping both dehydrates the body and reduces saliva production, causing dry mouth.

Yes any kind of dehydration can make you feel dizzy, particularly if there are other factors at play like it being a very hot day.

The first line of defense if you are feeling dehydrated is to drink plenty of fluids and to eat salty foods to replenish your electrolytes. However if you have persistent dizziness that does not go away, or dark yellow/no urine production you should seek medical attention.

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