accelerates skin aging/ArthurHidden
Amid claims that Gen Zers look older than they should, a leading dermatologist reveals how vaping can speed up skin aging by decades.
We have long been warned about the dangers of aging skin and deep wrinkles from smoking cigarettes. But dermatologists warn that vaping is also to blame for the appearance of wrinkles and rashes on the skin, writes the Daily Mail.
Vaping can speed up skin aging
The most vapers among all generations are Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, all under the age of 27, butaging faster than millennials, according to social media users.
According to American researchers, lifestyle, diet, environment and stress are affecting the younger generation.
But vaping may also be responsible for making Generation Z “age like milk” because toxic chemicals, in vapes destroy the components that keep us looking young, experts say.
Here, MailOnline asks leading dermatologists why vaping can add years to your skin, causing unwanted blemishes and wrinkles. Nicotine is a major culprit in skin deterioration, says Dr. Bav Shergill of the British Association of Dermatologists.
Nicotine is the active ingredient and has been linked to all kinds of skin problems. It is associated with acne, psoriasis and breakouts,
says Dr. Shergill.
In particular, vaping has been shown to cause premature aging of the skin. Nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco and vaping, can break down the elastic fibers in your skin. It's these fibers that give the skin “elasticity” or “tightness,” says Dr. Shergill.
He says, “They break down in people who use a lot of nicotine.”
This deterioration can be very noticeable and happen at a young age.
Dr. Shergill said: “If you take two people, for example twins, one of whom smokes and the other likes sunlight, and you look at them at the age of 25, you will see a difference between Aging starts quite early due to smoking and exposure to the sun.”
< em>Vaping can speed up skin aging/Photo prostooleh
Skin changes can be seen in 20-year-olds, if they smoke a lot, and not in 40-year-olds, explains he.
This premature aging is caused by a combination of heat, chemicals, and reduced blood flow to the skin caused by nicotine, which makes it harder for the skin to repair itself, explains Asia Maula, a general practitioner at The Health Suite Medical Center.
The heat from vaping can also cause the skin to become dehydrated, leading to a dull and aged appearance, adds Dr. Maula. Skin dehydration 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're losing collagen, which is essentially the stuffing of the mattress, and if you lose that, the mattress will sag and your skin will become saggy,
says Dr. Shergill.
He emphasizes that the , just because you smoke doesn't mean 'you're not using toxic substances.'
“Yes, there are certain substances in cigarette smoke that can damage your skin, but nicotine is a big problem, it's a drug, which is addictive and really has a negative effect on the skin.”
Smoking in any form containing nicotine can also cause cancer.
“It may be associated with oral cancer, lip cancer, and there are some reports that suggest it may be associated with melanoma squamous cell carcinoma,” 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 before the appearance of spotted red skin. This is because the beginning of the healing reaction is inflammation.
That's how you get extra blood flow to the cells you need to heal,
says Dr. Shergill.
He adds, “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, it starts to increase blood flow, so you become blotchy and red.”
It is this inflammation that can trigger psoriasis flare-ups. < /strong>
It's not just the skin that's bad
However, vaping isn't just bad for the skin, one of the most noticeable effects is yellowing of the teeth.
Chemicals found in vapes, stain the teeth and make them yellow, discolored and unhealthy.
“Such staining not only affects the smile, but also indicates harm to the health of the oral cavity,” – says Dr. Maula.
Dr. Maula is concerned not only about the superficial side effects of vaping, but also about the “unknown long-term risks that have yet to be studied.”