Another allergic reaction thread from a noob.

[Innereye]

I'm having to post here as it is my first time posting. So basically, I started vaping about a month ago to try and kick my cigarette habit. It has worked tremendously and I haven't touched an analog since. However, I seem to have developed an allergic reaction to something and I'm not sure if it is the juices or not. It didn't start flaring up until about a week into heavy vaping so at first I didn't suspect the e-liquid. Could it still be the juice even though the reaction was delayed? Could the PG have needed time to build up in my system before noticing anything negative?

irritation after scratching my forearm:

I guess I should describe the reaction as well... It does not flare up during and after vaping but seems to persist throughout the day. It also only happens when I get scratched and not anytime else. When scratched, my skin turns red and becomes raised, sometimes even forming little bumps on the raised area. This effect lasts for 5-10 minutes before subsiding. Benadryl seems to keep it somewhat at bay so I'm assuming this lends more evidence to it being allergy based.

As stated earlier, it doesn't happen specifically during vaping. I also have had no problems when vaping such as a sore, scratchy throat or "heavy lungs". If it was the juice or more specifically, the PG, wouldn't I break out if direct contact was made on the skin? I have since switched to all VG juices from Virgin Vapors and am waiting for the problems to disappear. Which I have read could take anywhere from 2-4 weeks being that it is likely a systemic allergic reaction. If anyone has first hand experience with anything similar, I would appreciate any feedback. I am also open to questions if someone needs more information. After doing some research I am talking to you guys first but my next step is going to see a dermatologist.

 

[FleetFoxes]

damn that looks rough bro wish I could help you out. Stck with the vape I'm sure a little rash is better than dying from cigs

 

[Innereye]

damn that looks rough bro wish I could help you out. Stck with the vape I'm sure a little rash is better than dying from cigs

While I completely agree with you, I've recently run into an issue. My tattoo artist is unwilling to finish a piece in progress because of my situation. While I don't fault him for it, it is somewhat of a bummer. I don't want to switch back to analogs at all but I may need to take a break from vaping for awhile to see what happens. If so, it is gonna be hard, I love vaping too much now.

 

[Caridwen]

Do you have other allergies? Food allergies, etc?

Really difficult to tell until you start eliminating things from the e-liquid. Could be PG, VG or even one of the flavorings in the e-liquid.

You could order some unflavored PG based liquid and some unflavored VG liquid and see if that does the trick.

Sorry you're having problems. Are you 100% sure it's due to vaping?

Edit: If you rub a tiny amount of liquid on your skin do you get a reaction?

 

[FleetFoxes]

While I completely agree with you, I've recently run into an issue. My tattoo artist is unwilling to finish a piece in progress because of my situation. While I don't fault him for it, it is somewhat of a bummer. I don't want to switch back to analogs at all but I may need to take a break from vaping for awhile to see what happens. If so, it is gonna be hard, I love vaping too much now.

That is tough man. I'm sure these fine people in this forum will help you out

 

[Innereye]

Do you have other allergies? Food allergies, etc?

Really difficult to tell until you start eliminating things from the e-liquid. Could be PG, VG or even one of the flavorings in the e-liquid.

You could order some unflavored PG based liquid and some unflavored VG liquid and see if that does the trick.

Sorry you're having problems. Are you 100% sure it's due to vaping?

Edit: If you rub a tiny amount of liquid on your skin do you get a reaction?

I guess I should have mentioned that earlier. To the best of my knowledge, I am not allergic to anything else. If juice related, I really hope it is the PG that is causing it, I have really been liking my VG based juices and would hate to not have any options at all when it comes to vaping. I have read small bits of info saying that a VG allergy is possible, how common is this? I know more people seem to have problems with PG so I immediately attributed it to that.

Edit: a couple of times today I tried applying a small drop onto my skin to see if anything would happen, Nada. I even went as far to apply some PG juice to one hand and VG juice to the other and let sit for several minutes and still nothing happened, no redness or itching.

 

[vsummer1]

Did you change your soap lately? Or laundry detergent? This looks like a form of contact dermatitis. Best to rule out things in contact with you first so when you GO SEE A DOCTOR you will have already ruled out the most obvious questions you will be asked.

 

[Caridwen]

I think more people seem to have a sensitivity to PG than VG. Somewhere around 10% of people have an actual allergy. If you said you had a lot of food allergies like an allergy to soy, I'd say watch the VG because it's plant based. Someone posted on here that they had a bad reaction to a flavoring- I think it was banana.

Allergies are crazy things because they can really develop at any point in your life. That rash looks pretty painful. I bet it itches! I hope it works out that the VG liquid works for you.

 

[Innereye]

Did you change your soap lately? Or laundry detergent? This looks like a form of contact dermatitis. Best to rule out things in contact with you first so when you GO SEE A DOCTOR you will have already ruled out the most obvious questions you will be asked.

I did switch to Tide laundry detergent about 5 months ago. I contemplated this and have also been told Tide tends to be very allergenic for a lot of people. My problem cropped up about 3 weeks ago so could the Tide have taken that long to trigger a reaction? A few days ago I also stopped all use of Tide and have since washed ALL my clothes and bedsheets in only water. I plan to re-wash them in another, more familiar detergent to get rid of any possible Tide residue.

 

[Innereye]

I think more people seem to have a sensitivity to PG than VG. Somewhere around 10% of people have an actual allergy. If you said you had a lot of food allergies like an allergy to soy, I'd say watch the VG because it's plant based. Someone posted on here that they had a bad reaction to a flavoring- I think it was banana.

Allergies are crazy things because they can really develop at any point in your life. That rash looks pretty painful. I bet it itches! I hope it works out that the VG liquid works for you.

Thanks for the feedback, I truly appreciate it. Luckily it hasn't itched that bad since it first started. The first two nights it kept me awake at night! I have been using a few different banana flavored juices though... one being Gorilla juice and the other being Havana Banana from Vermillion River. I will now discontinue use of the Gorilla juice for a bit ( I haven't used the VR for awhile since it is a PG juice). I have also heard that certain banana flavorings can crack or melt tanks so maybe it is wise to discontinue using them anyway.

 

[JollyRogers]

I developed a PG allergy after vaping over 2 years. I can vape PG, but not high % and not for an extended period of time. I had been vaping the same PG/VG 80/20 mix for over 8 months when it started. I eliminated the PG and tried PG free, and the symptoms went away. Back to a PG mix and they came back. I would be good in the morning, then by afternoon my legs and stomach would break out in hives.

There are some really good PG free and low PG vendors out there... I would suggest giving one a try.

Welcome to ECF

ETA: So it happens with Gorrila Juice? This is PG free liquid. So if it is happening, then most likely it is not a PG allergy

 

[Caridwen]

I developed a PG allergy after vaping over 2 years. I can vape PG, but not high % and not for an extended period of time. I had been vaping the same PG/VG 80/20 mix for over 8 months when it started. I eliminated the PG and tried PG free, and the symptoms went away. Back to a PG mix and they came back. I would be good in the morning, then by afternoon my legs and stomach would break out in hives.

There are some really good PG free and low PG vendors out there... I would suggest giving one a try.

Welcome to ECF

What symptoms did you have? A rash like the OP?

 

[JollyRogers]

What symptoms did you have? A rash like the OP?

by afternoon my legs and stomach would break out in hives...

 

[Innereye]

by afternoon my legs and stomach would break out in hives...

I am not sure if it is the Gorilla juice or not, I really hope not!
This is what has me stumped though. I DO NOT break out anywhere unless I am scratched, then I break out in the area that was scratched.

 

[BumbleBee]

Thanks for the feedback, I truly appreciate it. Luckily it hasn't itched that bad since it first started. The first two nights it kept me awake at night! I have been using a few different banana flavored juices though... one being Gorilla juice and the other being Havana Banana from Vermillion River. I will now discontinue use of the Gorilla juice for a bit ( I haven't used the VR for awhile since it is a PG juice). I have also heard that certain banana flavorings can crack or melt tanks so maybe it is wise to discontinue using them anyway.

I was going to ask if there was any rhyme or reason to your flavors. Did you get a new flavor in recently, something you haven't vaped before?

Allergies are so hard to pin point, unless they are immediate reactions.

Does Benedryl help? Any of the allergy creams help at all? Might help narrow it from local to systemic.

 

[Innereye]

I was going to ask if there was any rhyme or reason to your flavors. Did you get a new flavor in recently, something you haven't vaped before?

Allergies are so hard to pin point, unless they are immediate reactions.

Does Benedryl help? Any of the allergy creams help at all? Might help narrow it from local to systemic.

When it first flared up I was primarily using a Vermillion River juice called Summer Breeze (fruit flavored - strawberry etc.) as that is what my B&M store carries here in Minnesota. Since then I have used a few different tobacco flavors and have within the last week or so switched to mainly Virgin Vapors juices. I also picked up the Gorilla juice about a week ago that I have been using quite a bit lately.

The last time I used a PG juice was about 5-6 days ago. Maybe it is still working it's way out of my system?

I have been taking Benadryl and it does seem to help. That is all I have been taking to prevent the issue.