Everyone knows about the dangers of smoking cigarettes. They can cause premature aging, cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and the list goes on. But, are e-cigarettes bad for your skin? Electronic cigarettes have become extremely popular in a short period of time. Many have replaced cigarettes with e-cigarettes, hoping that the latter are better for their health. According to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the harm from smoking is caused primarily from the toxins produced by the burning of tobacco. Yet, though a number of studies have shown electronic cigarettes are safer than cigarettes because they contain no tobacco or tar and produce no smoke, they have still not proven to be safe.
In fact, e-cigarettes contain harmful substances, including nicotine and traces of toxic chemicals, according to Mayo Clinic. As a result, it is more likely than not that they are bad for you. And the fact that e-cigarettes contain nicotine proves that they are probably bad for you skin and may cause premature aging.
How Nicotine Negatively Affects Your Skin
E-cigarettes were designed to deliver nicotine to your system. Nicotine is an extremely addictive stimulant that harms the body in a number of ways. A small study showed that nicotine exposure was unchanged when participants switched from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, according to ASH, so the amount of nicotine you take in is about the same.
Though e-cigarettes don’t expose you to many of the chemicals that are included in cigarettes, nicotine is still harmful to both your skin and body. Nicotine doesn’t just stimulate the brain. It has other affects as well. According to an article published in Experimental Dermatology Journal, nicotine delays wound healing and accelerates skin aging. Just as nicotine sparks activity in the brain, research has also found that it drastically speeds up normal cellular activity in the skin, writes Science News. This leads to premature skin sagging and wrinkles. Scientists have also found that a chemical compound found in nicotine, nornicotine, has the potential to mangle proteins. Proteins that are affected in this way may increase the risk of diabetes, cancer and accelerated aging.
Nicotine has also been found to increase blood pressure and heart rate. High blood pressure can lead to premature aging and skin thinning as a result of increased stress. It can also lead to artery damage, which again harms the skin by reducing the amount of oxygen it receives.
Other Chemicals Found in E-Cigarettes
Along with nicotine, the FDA found traces of toxic chemicals when analyzing two popular brands, including known carcinogens. The FDA has stated that it has no way of knowing whether e-cigarettes are safe, and how much nicotine or other potentially harmful chemicals are being inhaled during use. Luckily, more and more research is being done on the subject.
Just like cigarettes were once marketed as being healthy, e-cigarettes are presented as a safe way to wean off of cigarettes. Although more research needs to be done in order to truly determine how bad e-cigarettes are for both your skin and body, there seems to be some evidence that points to its harmful effects. For now, we suggest avoiding e-cigarettes. They could potentially cause your skin to wrinkle and sag prematurely.
If you would like to ask Michelle a question,email: myclinicalteam@drdayan.com with the subject line “Question for Michelle”.
