Is vaping bad for the skin? Dermatologist says e-cigarettes can cause premature ageing and wrinkles

Doctor’s grim warning as he says vaping leads to premature ageing, skin dryness, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation: ‘These are the dangers to know about’

  • A doctor has claimed smoking e-cigarettes can cause your skin to age faster
  • Dermatologist Dr Lim Ing Kein said vaping slows the production of collagen
  • He said vaping dries the skin and causes wrinkles and hyperpigmentation

A top dermatologist has revealed vaping can cause premature ageing at a rapid rate and increase the appearance of wrinkles. 

Dr Lim Ing Kein, from Malaysia, said chemicals found in e-cigarettes can make the skin dry, slow the production of collagen and cause wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation.

The doctor issued a warning to those who regularly use vape pens in a video posted to his popular TikTok account. 

 

Dermatologist Dr Lim Ing Kein (pictured) claims smoking e-cigarettes can cause premature ageing at a quicker rate and lead to drier skin, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation

The Malaysian doctor said chemicals found in e-cigarettes can make the skin dry, slow the production of collagen and dysregulate wound healing

The Malaysian doctor said chemicals found in e-cigarettes can make the skin dry, slow the production of collagen and dysregulate wound healing 

‘Vaping requires the use of e-juices or electronic juices. All these chemicals when aerosolised and when creating a vapour it actually causes a few issues with your skin,’ he explained. 

‘First of all it completely dries up your skin, reduces the amount of sebum in your skin.’

Secondly Dr Lim said the fibroblast, the cell which creates collagen, produces the protein at a much slower pace. 

‘Now pad that together with the dysregulation of wound healing, you actually get premature aging at a much quicker rate,’ he said.  

‘There’s the appearance of wrinkles, there’s the appearance of hyperpigmentation and all these are actually related to e-cigarettes.’ 

Premature ageing isn’t the only effect vaping has on the skin.

According to a study published in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2019, there was a increase in contact dermatitis cases in those who smoked e-cigarettes.

'There's the appearance of wrinkles, there's the appearance of hyperpigmentation and all these are actually related to e-cigarettes,' he said in a viral TikTok clip

‘There’s the appearance of wrinkles, there’s the appearance of hyperpigmentation and all these are actually related to e-cigarettes,’ he said in a viral TikTok clip

Contact dermatitis is when the skin breaks out in a red, itchy or inflamed rash caused by contact with an allergen or irritant. 

Researchers also saw a spike in vape users with ‘explosion and burn injuries from e-cigarettes’. 

Between 2015 and 2017, more than 2,000 people were seen in American emergency rooms with injuries and burns caused by their vapes which is 40 times more than what the Food and Drug Administration reported from 2009 to 2015.

What is vaping and is it dangerous? 

Vaping is the act of using an e-cigarette, or ‘vape,’ which are lithium battery-powered devices that use cartridges filled with liquids, or ‘juice.’ 

The liquids typically contain nicotine, artificial flavourings, and various chemicals, some of which have been shown to be toxic. 

The liquid is heated into an aerosol, or vapour, and inhaled into the user’s lungs. 

Is vaping illegal? 

It is illegal to use, sell or buy nicotine for use in e-cigarettes to anyone in Australia without a prescription. 

With the exception of Western Australia, each state and territory permit the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes, but not the sale or purchase of liquid cartridges that contain nicotine. 

For this reason, many users purchase their products and liquid cartridges online. 

Is vaping dangerous? 

Vaping is unsafe and potentially dangerous. While the long-term health effects are unclear, we do know that vaping in the short-term has been associated with nausea, vomiting, mouth and airway irritation, chest pain and heart palpitations. 

There is a common misconception that vaping is merely harmless water vapour — in fact, it’s an aerosol made up of toxic particles.

These aerosols contain and emit many harmful compounds, including:

  • Formaldehyde and acrolein, which can cause irreversible lung damage
  • Propylene glycol, which is toxic to human cells
  • Nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the still-developing adolescent brain, particularly in areas that control attention, learning, mood and behavioural control.

Additionally, vaping is associated with the future uptake of cigarette smoking and can be considered a ‘gateway’ to further risk and health complications.

Source: Lung Foundation

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