People living with eczema are often on the lookout for ways to ease their symptoms. For many, this means finding factors in their lifestyle, diet, or environment that trigger itchy, discolored, and dry skin. One potential trigger that may come as a surprise is vaping.

Eczema is a complex skin condition with various triggers. For some people, chemicals and irritants, including those found in vaping products, can make eczema symptoms worse. The particles produced during vaping may irritate the skin, leading to increased inflammation and itchiness.

Vaping has recently become a popular alternative to cigarette smoking, particularly among young adults. People may take up vaping to manage stress, quit smoking cigarettes, or fit in with their social circles. Many people know that electronic cigarettes can harm the lungs and heart. But some may not know that vaping can also affect skin conditions like eczema.

Here, we discuss the connection between vaping and eczema. You’ll discover the ingredients in vaping products, their impact on the skin, and potential links to eczema flares.

What Is Vaping?

Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling a vapor produced by a vaping device. These devices go by many different names, such as vapes, electronic cigarettes, vape pens, and e-cigs. Vapes typically contain an e-liquid or vape juice. When heated up through battery power, the liquid creates a vapor that users inhale.

What Is in Vape Liquid?

Many vapes contain more nicotine than regular cigarettes. Nicotine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that’s naturally found in tobacco. Vapes may be labeled nicotine-free, but these usually still contain small amounts of nicotine. People also vape other illicit drugs, such as marijuana (THC), each with their own potential health risks.

Many people believe vaping to be a safer alternative to smoking. But, beyond these drugs, the ingredient list in the vapor is long. Ingredients in e-liquids can vary but often include propylene glycol, flavorings, toxic metals, and other additives. One review found 22 toxic substances present in e-cigarette liquids aside from nicotine.

Ingredients in Vaping Products and Their Impact on the Skin

Here are some of the main ingredients in vaping products and how they may affect the skin:

• Propylene glycol — Causes contact dermatitis (itchy rash caused by a skin irritant or allergen)
• Nicotine — Impairs the healing process and increases inflammation
• Flavorings and additives — Worsen eczema flares

Propylene Glycol

Propylene glycol is a synthetic compound used in e-liquids to create vapor. It’s also found in numerous products, including brake fluid and antifreeze.

Propylene glycol is generally recognized as safe. But, in many cases, the compound has been shown to cause contact dermatitis. People with eczema have a higher risk of developing this rash and may face more severe symptoms. You can do a patch test to see if you’re allergic to propylene glycol.

Nicotine

Nicotine is a very addictive substance found in some e-liquids. Smoking nicotine is known to impair wound healing and may also increase inflammation.

One potential cause of atopic dermatitis — the most common type of eczema — is thought to be the immune system. Eczema symptoms, like skin inflammation, may be caused by the immune system reacting to a weak skin barrier. Nicotine use may then worsen eczema symptoms in people living with eczema.

Flavorings and Additives

The flavorings and additives used in e-liquids vary widely. They can include natural and artificial compounds. Some people may have sensitivities to specific flavorings or additives. This may lead to skin reactions, including eczema flares.

Vaping and Eczema: Is There a Connection?

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has closely studied the connections between cigarette smoking and eczema. However, research linking vaping and eczema is limited. One recent AAD study noted that people who used e-cigarettes were more likely to have atopic dermatitis.

Some anecdotal evidence and online discussions suggest a possible link between vaping and eczema flares. Users reported that their eczema symptoms worsened or new eczema flare-ups began after starting or increasing vaping.

More research is needed on the effect of vaping on eczema. With vaping being so new, scientific studies haven’t been able to evaluate its long-term health impacts.

Factors That May Influence Vaping’s Impact on Eczema

Several factors might play a role in how vaping affects your skin and eczema:

• Individual sensitivities
• Frequency and duration
• Environmental factors

Individual Sensitivities

Every person’s body is different. Some people may be more prone to skin reactions, including eczema flares, when exposed to certain vaping ingredients.

Frequency and Duration

How often and how long you vape may also play a role. Heavy and prolonged vaping could increase your chances of negative skin effects. Plus, the more you vape, the higher your risk of burns and other vaping-related skin injuries, which could trigger your eczema.

Environmental Factors

Other environmental factors, such as air pollution and climate, can also affect eczema. Vaping indoors or in polluted areas might make your symptoms worse.

Two of the most common triggers of eczema symptoms are cigarette smoke and allergens. Vaping doesn’t cause the same secondhand smoke that cigarettes do. But, the airborne chemicals can have an impact on your skin. The ingredients present in e-cigarette vapor — nicotine, propylene glycol, and artificial flavorings — may trigger your eczema symptoms.

Effects of Vaping on Specific Eczema Symptoms

Vaping may directly trigger eczema flares. It may also worsen eczema symptoms in several other ways by causing:

• Delayed wound healing
• Contact dermatitis
• Itchiness
• Skin discoloration and inflammation

Prolonged Wound Healing

Cigarette use is known to delay the healing process, increase the risk of infection, and lead to excessive scarring. This effect can harm people with active eczema flares that ooze or peel, or with areas of cracked or open skin.

Contact Dermatitis

Allergens in e-cigarette vapor often lead to eczema skin symptoms. Vape liquid contains many ingredients that could cause a reaction. For that reason, it may be hard to conduct a patch test to see which ingredients you’re allergic to. For example, if you heat vapor with a coil made of nickel, it may cause contact dermatitis on the hand holding the vape.

Itchiness

Some people have reported that itchiness in areas of skin affected by eczema increased after vaping. This could be related to an allergic response to the liquids used in vape products.

Discoloration and Inflammation

Skin discoloration and inflammation may be worse in people with eczema who vape. This may be due to the skin’s sensitivity to certain e-liquid ingredients.

Impact on Eczema Treatments

Vaping might impact the effectiveness of eczema treatments. Nicotine has been shown to affect how the liver processes some drugs. However, there is no specific evidence to indicate that nicotine impacts the effectiveness of eczema medications, such as topical steroids or biologics.

Ask your healthcare provider if any of the drugs you’re taking interact with nicotine.

Next Steps if You Want To Learn More or Quit Vaping

Vaping has negative health effects on your whole body, not only your skin. If you have eczema and are concerned about how vaping may impact your skin, speak to your doctor or dermatologist. If you wish to quit vaping, there are various resources available. Support groups, counseling, and nicotine replacement therapies may help you quit.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyEczemaTeam is the social network for people with eczema and their loved ones. On MyEczemaTeam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with eczema.

Has vaping affected your eczema symptoms? What advice do you have for others trying to quit vaping? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.