The Hindustan Times is an English-language paper based out of New Delhi. It has a strong online reach, but it’s gained something of a reputation for pumping out fake news, propaganda, and pure clickbait. Their latest article on vaping seems to have all these qualities and more.
The article
The article sets out to explore the idea that vaping can affect how skin heals. However, it’s less an exploration of that idea than it is the repackaging of an Instagram video by Dr Kunal Sood, a US-based physician. As I’ve said before, I remember when doctors had the decency to seek attention by driving fast cars or boasting about their short game at the country club, instead of scrounging around for a few views on social media. Better times.
Any optimistic thoughts that this article will be an honest exploration of the subject matter quickly vanish with the first line, which reads: “Vaping is not much healthier than smoking cigarettes, especially when the vapes are laced with nicotine.” Typically, laced is used when substances are secretly added to something, and not when it’s the explicit, advertised, and key ingredient of a product. Wild.
Is vaping connected to poor wound healing?
As outlined by the esteemed doctor, nicotine causes vasoconstriction because it’s a stimulant. Caffeine does the same, as well as a whole host of other drugs and hormones, as well as phenomena like the cold, bright lights, and exercise. When veins constrict, blood flow is reduced, and tissues don’t get as much oxygen.
Now, it’s important to note that this mechanism happens while people vape. The onset of vasoconstriction is typically within minutes, and peaks about 20 minutes after ingesting nicotine. Of course, frequent use can translate into elevated levels.
But, despite the wild claim at the start of the article, the comparison between vaping and smoking is not justified. Smoking combustible cigarettes is far worse for your skin because:
- Carbon monoxide in smoke binds to haemoglobin, reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood and further impairing tissue oxygenation and repair.[1]
- Cigarette smoke breaks down collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin firm and elastic.[2]
- Studies show that smoking depletes nutrients and antioxidants like vitamin C, which can cause a dull, greyish skin tone associated with tobacco smoking.[3]
Because of the above, it’s well understood that smoking can delay wound healing, impair fibroblast function, and cause chronic inflammation. All of these things slow normal tissue repair.
So, while vaping could potentially cause some of these issues due to the presence of nicotine, the negative effects are generally much smaller than among those who smoke for the reasons explained above.
How to reduce the impact of nicotine on your skin?
While vaping or using nicotine pouches isn’t bad for your skin compared to cigarettes, it can still have a minor impact. So, what can you do to ensure that you stay looking as good as possible while still enjoying nicotine in the healthiest ways possible?
#1. Stay hydrated
Vaping can cause dehydration of the skin. As such, it’s important to drink plenty of water when you vape. Additionally, you can use non-foaming cleansers or a moisturiser to counter the dryness.
#2. Antioxidants
If you’re worried about oxidative stress caused by nicotine, use niacinamide or Vitamin A to help neutralise some of that damage and support collagen maintenance.
#3. Sunscreen
Use SPF 30 or higher sunscreen to ensure that UV exposure and vaping aren’t working together to cause collagen breakdown and MMP‑1 activation.
#4. Lifestyle
Good sleep, exercise, and healthy eating improve microcirculation and systemic oxidative balance, which will counteract the vascular issues that are caused by stimulants like nicotine.
Final thoughts
It’s fairly well established that smoking can damage skin and reduce healing. However, while nicotine plays a part, there are a whole lot of other factors to consider with combustible cigarettes. The Instagram doctor and the Hindustan Times have overplayed their hand here, serving largely to muddy the waters and confuse the public about which nicotine delivery method is better for your skin.
