Men and women are increasingly choosing electronic cigarettes (eCigs) to help them kick the smoking habit. But are electronic cigarettes bad for your skin and overall health?

Each year, an estimated 500,000 men and women lose their lives to tobacco related illnesses. That makes tobacco the largest cause of preventable deaths and diseases in the United States, according to reports authored by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). And while tobacco use causes severe damage to internal tissues, the effects of smoking can also be seen externally on the face, nails, and skin.

If you smoke cigarettes, cigars, or use smokeless tobacco, few things can have a more profoundly positive affect on your overall health and appearance than the decision to quit. Should you choose to quit, many individuals report that nicotine replacement products are a crucial key to squashing the craving for smoking and nicotine. However, not all replacement products are equally safe.

Why Are Electronic Cigarettes Bad for Your Skin?

Electronic cigarettes, or eCigs, are among the most popular nicotine replacement tools available. Whether quitting tobacco to improve health or regain a more youthful appearance, physicians recommend avoiding eCigs for the potentially harmful side effects.

eCigs have unfairly earned a reputation for being a healthier alternative to smoking because they do not actually contain tobacco. With an electronic cigarette, there is no burning and thus no smoke, tar, and (seemingly) no side effects. Instead, eCigs produce vapor enriched with nicotine and flavoring, which is then inhaled.

Despite being free of tobacco and smoke, the nicotine in electronic cigarettes can negatively affect skin health and overall body wellness. Nicotine is known to constrict blood vessels, which decreases blood flow and oxygen to internal tissues and organs, like the skin. This can accelerate the appearance of aging, especially in the face. Wrinkles, fine lines, and more pronounced crow’s feet are just 3 examples of potential side effects.

eCigs and Cellular Damage

There is more to worry about than just nicotine, however. Electronic cigarettes also contain chemicals and additional flavorings that have not adequately been studied. In the studies that have been conducted, researchers believe eCigs capable of damaging cellular DNA while also increasing the likelihood of developing cancer.

“There have been many studies showing that nicotine can damage cells,” says Dr. Wang-Rodriquez. “But we found that other variables can do damage as well […] There must be other components in the e-cigarettes that are doing this damage. So we may be identifying other carcinogenic components that are previously undescribed.” Dr. Wang- Rodriquez’s full statement is made available by Medical News Today.

Take Control of Your Appearance with Dr. Mariano Busso

Reclaim a more youthful appearance, today. Schedule an appointment with dermal filler expert Dr. Mariano Busso online, or call our Coconut Grove office directly at 305-857-0144 to learn more about Miami’s most advanced methods of anti-aging skin care and aesthetic facial enhancement.