Vaping Culture and Cutaneous Health: A Trend with Skin-Deep Consequences
Abstract
Originally developed as smoking cessation aids, electronic cigarettes have evolved into widely used lifestyle devices, with usage rates reaching 18.3% among 18-24-year-olds in 2023. While research initially focused on respiratory and systemic effects, growing attention is now being paid to dermatological consequences. Vaping exposes users to a diverse chemical milieu, including nicotine, metals, and toxic and carcinogenic compounds, which can induce oxidative stress, promote inflammation, and impair vascular function in the skin. Acute dermatological effects include allergic or irritant contact dermatitis, burns, and perioral irritation, often precipitated by device malfunctions or contact with e-liquids and vapor. Chronically, vaping may accelerate skin aging, impair wound healing, and exacerbate existing conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis, with mechanisms involving collagen degradation, altered pigmentation, and disrupted microcirculation. Case reports further link vaping to unusual presentations such as morphea, urticaria, and surgical complications, sometimes due to toxic contaminants or chronic low-level exposure. While epidemiological data remain limited, some findings raise concerns about potential carcinogenicity. Critically, dermatologists may be the first clinicians to identify vaping-related skin changes, positioning them as key players in early intervention, patient education, and harm reduction. Significant research gaps persist, particularly regarding…
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