Do you have VAPE FACE? Amid claims that Gen Z is looking older than it should, a top dermatologist reveals how vaping can age skin by decades
We’ve long been warned about the dangers of aging skin and deep lines from cigarette smoking, but fumes are also responsible for wrinkled skin and breakouts, dermatologists warn.
The biggest vapers of any generation are Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012. They are all under the age of 27, yet they appear to be aging faster than millennials, according to social media users.
According to American researchers, lifestyle, nutrition, environment and stress are taking their toll on the young generation.
But vaping could also be blamed for “aging like milk” of Generation Z, as toxic chemicals in vapes break down the components that keep us looking young, experts say.
Here, MailOnline asks top dermatologists why vaping can add years to your skin and cause unwanted spots and wrinkles.
Do you have a vape face? dermatologists say chemicals in vapors can cause breakouts, wrinkles and dehydrated skin
Nicotine is a major culprit when it comes to skin conditions, says Dr Bav Shergill of the British Association of Dermatologists.
‘Nicotine is the active substance and is associated with all kinds of skin problems. It is associated with acne, psoriasis and pimples,” says Dr. Shergill.
Vaping in particular has been shown to cause premature aging of the skin.
Nicotine, an addictive substance in tobacco and vaping, can break down the elastic fibers in your skin.
These fibers give your skin some ‘ding’ or some ‘lift-up,’ says Dr. Shergill.
He said: ‘They are broken down by people who use a lot of nicotine.’
Premature aging is caused by the combination of heat, chemicals and reduced blood flow to the skin caused by nicotine, which makes it harder for the body to repair the skin
This humiliation can be very noticeable and occur at an early age.
Dr. Shergill said: ‘If you have two people, twins for example, and you had one who smokes and likes a bit of sun, and you look at them at 25 and you see the difference between them. Aging starts quite early with smoking and sun exposure.’
The skin changes are visible in a person’s 20s if he or she smokes frequently, not in their 40s, he explains.
This premature aging is caused by the combination of heat, chemicals and reduced blood flow to the skin caused by nicotine, which makes it harder for the body to repair the skin, explains Asiya Maula, GP at The Health Suite medical center .
The heat of fumes can also cause dryness of the skin, leading to a dull and aged appearance, adds Dr. Maula.
Dehydrated skin is also an unwanted side effect of nicotine use, which can lead to wrinkles as the collagen in the skin begins to break down.
‘You lose your collagen, which is basically like the filling in the mattress. If you throw that away, the mattress becomes soft and your skin becomes saggy,” says Dr. Shergill.
He emphasizes that just because you vape doesn’t mean you won’t ingest things that aren’t toxic.
‘Yes, there are certain substances in cigarette smoke that can damage your skin, but nicotine is a big problem, it is an addictive drug that does have adverse skin effects.’
Smoking in any form that contains nicotine can also cause cancer.
“It can be associated with oral cancer, lip cancer and there are some reports that say it can be associated with squamous cell carcinoma of melanoma,” says Dr. Shergill.
These toxic chemicals, including nicotine, can cause ‘thermal damage’ and the body will try to ‘repair’ itself from this damage.
But this process can lead to other skin problems, including blotchy red skin.
That’s because the beginning of a healing response is inflammation.
“This gives you extra blood flow to the right cells to help you recover,” says Dr. Shergill.
He added: ‘Inflammation can also lead to the production of factors that can damage your collagen and scars on a micro level.
“When your body becomes inflamed, blood flow begins to increase, causing you to become blotchy and red.”
Chemicals in vapes discolor teeth and make them look more yellow, discolored and unhealthy
It is also this inflammation that can cause psoriasis to worsen and flare up.
However, it’s not just the skin that is damaged by vaping; one of the most noticeable effects is the yellowing of the teeth.
Chemicals in vapes discolor teeth and make them look more yellow, discolored and unhealthy.
“This discoloration not only affects the smile, but also indicates damage to oral health,” says Dr. Maula.
It’s not just the superficial side effects of vaping that worry Dr Maula, but also the “unknown long-term risks that are not yet known.”
Everything you need to know about e-cigarettes
How much nicotine is in an e-cigarette?
There are many different brands of e-cigarettes, with different nicotine levels.
The legal amount of nicotine in an e-liquid capacity in the UK is 20 mg/ml, which is equivalent to between 600 and 800 puffs.
The Elf Bar 600, one of the most popular vapes in the UK, is advertised as being available in nicotine strengths of 0mg, 10mg and 20mg.
How many cigarettes are in an e-cigarette?
The Elf Bar 600 contains the equivalent of 48 cigarettes, analysts say.
It delivers 600 puffs before needing to be thrown away, meaning that in theory every 12.5 puffs equals one cigarette.
Experts say that for many e-cigarettes, 100 puffs are equivalent to ten regular cigarettes.
Elf Bars is a brand of e-cigarettes often sold in trendy colors and with kid-friendly names and flavors, such as blue razz lemonade and green gummy bear
Is vaping better for your health than cigarettes?
According to the NHS, vaping products are considered better than cigarettes because users are exposed to fewer toxins and lower levels.
The health department adds that vaping instead of smoking cigarettes reduces your exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, lung disease and diseases of the heart and circulatory system, such as strokes and heart attacks.
Public Health England, which no longer exists, published an independent expert review in 2015 which concluded that e-cigarettes are around 95 percent less harmful than cigarettes.
However, vaping is not without risks. Although concentrations in tobacco products are much higher, e-cigarettes still contain harmful toxins, according to a study by researchers at the Medical University of Silesia in Poland.
And Dr. Onkar Mudhar, a London dentist who posts videos on TikTok, said Elven bars can cause gingivitis, swelling and bleeding.
He said this is because nicotine dries out your mouth and reduces saliva, causing irritation from a buildup of bacteria and food that can’t be washed away.
Nearly 350 hospital admissions were recorded in England in 2022 due to vaping, which are believed to be mainly due to respiratory problems such as shortness of breath, chest pain, pneumonia and, in severe cases, respiratory failure.