It is common knowledge that smoking cigarettes comes with a long list of health risks. And among them, skin damage is probably the most visible. Cigarette smoke can leave your skin dry, cause wrinkles, impose a yellowish tinge, and accelerate aging, leaving your skin looking dull and unattractive. The simplest way to prevent your skin from damage is to quit smoking.
Unfortunately, quitting smoking is easier said than done. The nicotine addiction can be hard to overcome, and the withdrawal symptoms can make it difficult to stick to your resolution. However, there are many ways to that ease the process, and converting to e-cigarettes is among the most popular.
Quit Smoking With E-Cigarettes
E-cigarettes are designed to provide smokers with a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. Instead of producing smoke, they emit much cleaner vapors. That itself makes it better for your skin. But if you want to know more reasons to quit smoking with e-cigarettes for the sake of your skin, you will find details in the article below.
Why Vaping?
E-cigarettes, also known as vaping, were invented in their current form in China in 2003 by Hon Lik. The first electronic cigarettes were designed to mimic the traditional cigarettes, with the battery-powered heating element positioned along with the cigarette-style filter. This model was not that efficient, but it served its purpose well enough to make people notice the invention.
In the next decade, the vape was improved, and its subtypes emerged. The main idea, however, remains the same. Instead of smoking tobacco, which contains harmful chemicals, smokers heat nicotine-laced liquids based on glycerin and propylene glycol. The amount of nicotine in pods and refills can be adjusted according to users’ preferences.
With this “new” technology, you can slowly reduce the nicotine concentration in your vape until you can get rid entirely. Many smokers develop the habit of smoking cigarettes – known as habitual smoking – not because of nicotine addiction alone. They smoke for the physical act and the whole ritual of smoking.
The smell, the taste, and even the hand movement can be addicting just as much as the nicotine. That’s why, when trying to quit smoking cigarettes, if you can find something that mimics the physical act of smoking, such as vaping, it’s easier to quit.
Is Vaping Safe?
Vaping comes with its fair share of controversies. Some believe that it can be just as harmful to your health and sometimes even more dangerous than smoking cigarettes. But most of this controversy is based on the lack of research regarding vaping’s long-term effects.
Vaping does have some risks that cannot be denied. It can still damage your teeth and gums or irritate the lungs when inhaled in large amounts. However, the list of ingredients in most vaping liquids is very limited and regulated.
With that, the risks of using them are significantly lower compared to smoking cigarettes that contain thousands of harmful chemicals such as arsenic and cadmium, which can cause cancer.
The majority of studies on the topic conclude that vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, but that doesn’t make it completely safe, not even for your skin.
The smoke particles can clog your pores and cause yellowness, but it is the nicotine that is responsible for most of the skin damage caused by smoking cigarettes. Smoking e-cigarettes exposes you to a smaller amount of nicotine.
How to Care for Smoke-Damaged Skin?
If you want to get rid of the damage caused by smoking cigarettes, it is best to start with a clean slate. Depending on your skin type, that might mean exfoliating more frequently and using specific moisturizers. But there are some general rules that apply to all skin types.
The first step is to cleanse your face thoroughly. You can use a gentle cleanser or an exfoliating scrub to get rid of the dead skin cells. The next step is to wear sunscreen, as nicotine tends to dry out the skin and make it more prone to damage from sunlight (which can also further dry out the skin).
Your at-home routine should be complemented by a healthy diet and lifestyle. Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated, and eat foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E that can help repair the damage. You can also start using a retinol serum to help stimulate collagen production and minimize the appearance of wrinkles.
Lastly, you may want to try laser skin treatments. As your skin loses elasticity after being exposed to smoke, you can use laser treatments to improve blood circulation and stimulate collagen production. Wrinkles and fine lines will become less visible, and your skin will be and look healthier.
Should You Quit Smoking?
The most important thing to remember is that it’s never too late to quit smoking cigarettes. Vaping can be a great alternative to other methods of preventing nicotine withdrawal, such as patches or gum. If you’re not ready to give up nicotine completely, you can slowly lower its amount using a vape pen.
However, it is essential to note that vaping should not be considered a long-term solution. In other words, you should treat vaping as a tool to help you quit smoking cigarettes, not as an alternative. The goal is to eventually give up nicotine altogether and allow your body to heal from the damage that has been done.
Final Thoughts
Smoking conventional cigarettes is known to be detrimental to your skin health. It dries out the skin, clogs pores, and causes wrinkles. If you want to improve your skin, quitting smoking is a must (not to mention other health issues).
There are many ways to quit smoking cigarettes these days. One of the most popular methods is switching to e-cigarettes (or vaping). The ingredients of vape liquids are safer for your skin than those found in tobacco smoke, and the main culprit, nicotine, is present in a much smaller amount, depending on the juice you use.
If you want to bring your skin to its former glory, giving up smoking with vapes can be a great start. As you eventually give up nicotine entirely and improve your lifestyle, you will start to see visible improvements in your skin condition. So, what are you waiting for? Give it a try today!