Can Nicotine Vapes Trigger Acne Breakouts?

They definitely can. There are several ingredients in vapes that can trigger acne, from propylene glycol to artificial flavors. Heavy metals released from the heating coil in vapes (like aluminum, nickel, and chromium), can also inflame the body over time, leading to premature aging and more active breakouts. There have even been several studies of people with nickel allergies developing dermatitis because of the nickel released from holding a vape.

And then there’s nicotine— one of the worst culprits since it stimulates oil production and can clog pores. Let’s dive into how vaping could be impacting your skin and what you can do to fix it.

How Vaping Affects Your Skin

Your skin is your largest organ and is impacted both by external factors (sun, pollution, injury), and by internal factors, including what you put into your body. Here are some of the ways nicotine and vaping can affect your skin:

Increased oil production: Nicotine stimulates your adrenal glands which causes a spike in the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol is your stress hormone, which regulates your immunity, blood pressure, and metabolism. Your sebum (oil) levels naturally rise with extra cortisol. Vapes also contain dehydrating aerosols and plenty of harsh chemicals which can cause your skin to overproduce oil.
Decreased immune function: Cortisol also regulates your immune system, so when your cortisol levels spike, your body’s ability to fight back against active infection, like acne, falls.
Food Cravings: Increased cortisol can lead to cravings for comfort foods –foods with high sugars and fats–that also hurt your skin health.
Hormonal Imbalances: Nicotine can disrupt your hormonal balance, especially in teens and young adults who are sensitive to hormonal changes, leading to acne on the face, neck, and back.
Inflammation: All those harsh chemicals can lead to a vicious cycle–your skin overproduces oil and becomes inflamed, which leads to even more break outs.

The more you cut down on nicotine, the better you’ll feel, and ultimately, the better your skin will look.

Clear your skin. Clear your lungs. Start quitting now.

Will Your Skin Improve After Quitting?

Most likely! Since there are so many factors that go into skin health, we can’t say for certain that quitting will magically clear all your acne. However, many quitters see real improvements in their skin like

Fewer breakouts
Less oiliness
More even skin tone
Faster healing
Brighter, clearer, “glowy” skin

One study conducted by a team of dermatologists found “a strong correlation between cigarette smoking…as well as an increase in the grade of sebum peroxidation, in parallel to a reduction in vitamin E.” That’s a dangerous combination; you’ve got more oil, but also less vitamin E to keep your skin hydrated and elastic. That can lead to more breakouts, and prolong your ability to heal the acne you have.

Easing Out of Vaping Without Wrecking Your Skin

Full disclosure: while quitting does help in the long term, it can cause temporary breakouts. This phase generally lasts just a few weeks as your body adjusts and detoxes. While the results can be scary, it’s actually a natural response—your body is recovering its hormonal balance and clearing the harsh chemicals out of your system.

Many people use nicotine mints to help manage some of these symptoms. This allows your body to gradually adjust to the lack of nicotine, while also keeping your stress in check. It’s a win-win situation; your body is no longer exposed to harmful vapor that causes acne, while your hormones can slowly work their way back to their baseline. Plus, it can help you manage secondary cravings—for sugar or fats that can trigger new breakouts.

Why Nicotine Mints or Lozenges Are a Better Alternative for Skin

Worried that nicotine mints will harm your skin, too? Don’t worry. Nicotine mints are significantly safer than cigarettes, vapes, and pouches for many reasons:

No vapor or aerosol to dry out your skin.
No additives, harsh chemicals, or heavy metals that hurt you from the inside out.
Better control over how much nicotine you actually ingest, which directly affects your appetite, hormones and circulation–all of which plays a role in your skin health.

If you’re struggling with stubborn breakouts, especially around the jaw line or mouth area, you might be better off trading in your vape for a healthier alternative like Jones mints . The cherry on top? Our mints are discreet, clean, and taste great. Because you deserve to feel good in your skin, from the inside out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? We’ve got you. Here’s a compiled list of questions quitters like you have asked about how vaping affects acne.

Can vape flavorings affect my skin?
Yes. Artificial flavorings like cinnamon or menthol can trigger irritation or allergic reactions, potentially worsening acne or causing rashes.

Does secondhand vape exposure affect acne?
Possibly. While more research is needed, exposure to vaporized chemicals in enclosed environments may still affect sensitive skin or trigger inflammation.

Is acne more common with disposable vapes?
Some disposable vapes contain higher concentrations of nicotine and unknown additives, which may increase skin-related side effects.

How do I tell if my acne is vape-related?

If you’ve developed new breakouts or your acne got worse since you started vaping, especially around your mouth or jawline, vaping may be a contributing factor.

Can switching to nicotine gum or lozenges help with acne?
Yes. Alternatives like Jones nicotine mint lozenges can be really helpful as you cut out the dehydrating vapor and all the chemicals in vapes that can irritate your skin.