For those with PG issues

[jennydotz]

Lots of people have no bad reactions and even report positive things about PG, so this thread is not intended give anyone second thoughts about PG. If it ain't broke, don't fix it and all that. I realize too that there are potential risks associated with VG as well.

That being said, I had posted a while back that I was feeling spacey when vaping, I switched to almost all VG, and the spaciness instantly went away. I started wondered about the PG that it turns out is in every one of my facial skincare products (everything I use is labelled for sensitive skin, I have struggled for years with a very mild rosacea-like redness on my face).

I googled "Propylene Glycol irritant" and found that although the mainstream community regards PG as safe for skin, it is a significant enough irritant for many people that many product lines are marketed as PG-free. You have to hunt for them, but they are out there and they are selling. So I have stopped using PG in my skincare products and I am seeing a difference.

My mother suffers horribly with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue issues, which leads me to assume that I am likely predisposed to such things. I've heard that these health issues are linked in some way to the way the body processes lactic acid and I wonder if anyone else can comment or add info to this possible connection since PG breaks down in the body as lactic acid? I'm posting in the women's area because women are more stastically prone to these illnesses and our systems seem to be a little more sensitive and in general.

This could be very significant if I know now that my intolerance for PG is related to the lactic acid and that it indicates for me a potential for future health problems I could take steps to prevent. Anyone else with fybromyalgia (or related syndromes) or fibro in family members? Able to make a connection with PG, whether it be vaping or any other context?

THanks for any anecdotal (or other) information!

 

[aschmidy]

Jenny, I was so surprised to read your post! I just went thru the same type of issues with PG. Any amount of PG in the juice makes me very ill. After I realized what the problem was I started looking for PG in other products I was using and was shocked. My nail polish remover, as soon as I switched to one without PG my nails have improved tremendously! I cleaned out all of my haircare, cosmetics, lotions, soaps, etc. and my hair skin and nails are improving every day.
My mom has Polymyalgia Rheumatica, which an inflammatory disease. Scarey stuff. Unknown cause.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing!

 

[jennydotz]

Thanks so much for responding Aschmidy! That is an interesting connection there. I am very disappointed that I have been using Cetaphil cleanser religiously all these years for sensitive skin on the advice of a dermatologist and my skin never got any better. PG is the main ingredient, no one (mainstream medical) ever suggested that PG could be a culprit.

Have you found any good products to recommend? I've been using Dr. Bronners unscented liquid baby soap on my face. It was cheap and easy to get, so I figured I'd try it as a first step and so far so good. For moisturizer Burt's Bees has several choices and no PG, so I bought a sampler pack. It's very highly fragranced, so I'm not sure about it. I use very sparingly as needed so far. Physician's Formula Organics has a chemical free sunscreen that seems to be OK too, but it also has a bit of a smell and feels different. Haven't fooled with hair stuff yet as I am pretty stocked right now but I will phase out the PG when I'm ready for new.

 

[aschmidy]

Jenny,
I can relate. I used and sold Mary Kay for 20 years. All of it has PG in it! I cleaned it all out (my daughter-in-law is loving me!) and just started closely reading labels and trying new skin care and cosmetics. Some of the Neutrogena lotions are good, I heard a lot of women who couldn't use Mary Kay moisturizers mention Neutrogena (my Mom included). Makes me wonder how many women really do react to PG? The Mary Kay bar soap cleanser is pg free and I have used it for years, so I will stick with that. Watch your foundation, if you use one. I ended up with an Almay foundation after reading labels for a good hour in the store.
The Pantene haircare line is mostly pg free. Experimenting there.
I even had extreme trouble at the dentist with an adhesive for a crown and he has been trying to help me find the problem ingredient since last fall!
Glad I found you, I was beginning to feel very alone with this!

 

[jennydotz]

Here's a related thread, if you haven't seen it:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/health-safety-e-smoking/5748-fibromyalgia-lactic-acid.html

 

[Mary Kay]

Other then some spots on my chin and soreness that is fading, pg doesn't seem to be having much of an effect. Those side effects are probaly due to diabetes though. But I cannot use the Mary Kay products, I am allergic. I tried them because of my name, after my eyelashes fell out and my skin went red, my Dr. told me it was very common when using her products. He thought it was the tannin, maybe it was the pg.
I will keep watching though.
Mary

 

[V-V]

Seems that when I buy juice I mostly see PG, where are you getting your VG based niquids? I ask, because I haven't as yet tried any VG.

 

[aschmidy]

V-V, Johnson Creek Smoke Juice has a great sample pack in Non PG (VG). I Love their Tennessee Cured! Juicy Liquid and LiquidXpress both have DIY VG in different strengths and flavors available. There may be more, but these are the only ones I am aware of.

Jenny, that's a very interesting link. Thanks.

 

[V-V]

I have the sample pack from them, but I think mine is PG. I'll have to check the paperwork again.

 

[MissVapor]

Im thinking of switching to VG because I sometimes get spacey and I start wheezing (and I don't even wheez with regular cigarettes) I guess it could be an allergy Im having to PG?

 

[RazorNribbonz]

I really suggest you guys that are PG sensitive check out the products from Usana.. I had a few people approach me about this line. But I basically ignored them..I would just nod and smile, because I thought it was just some pyramid scheme....
But then my neighbor, who is a holistic health practitioner approached me about it..Her I trusted I knew she was very honest and wanted the best for her clients.. I knew she had always had sever rosacea. It had disappeared...She had started telling me the scientists who created them..How vitamins weren't regulated blah blah...I wont go into all that about their vitamins...I don't want to sound like a commercial...I don't sell the stuff but I researched it thoroughly and buy it faithfully...Its the only thing that has healed my husbands hands ( cracked open so bad he could barely work)
You guys need to know about their skin care line.. Its patented self preserving technology... Designed to penetrate at a cellular level..Unlike glycerine that only sits topically on the skin and as you ladies can attest to, irritate...
My sister inlaw has had sever psoriasis all her life....Spent tons of money on drs and dermatologists..The only thing they told her was to go to a tanning bad...Or take a drug that had sever side effects.. She started using usanas shampoo/cond/ shower gel line...I swear, her psoriasis is 90% gone...
Anyway, I just know how much it has helped my family...You might have to get it from a private dealer or maybe you could buy it from their site..I'm not sure since I get it from my neighbor...
But their skin care line is called...Sense'...You should check it out...I hope you all feel better either way.

 

[CatVTTV]

I suffer from ME and have done for almost 20 years.

Over the years this has effected me in various forms other than the obvious debilitating ones. One particular one is sudden onset of allergic reactions, including as I now know, one to PG.

I started with my first e-cig some two months ago now, and my first e-liquid contained PG. For the first couple of weeks I didnt notice a great deal, other than the usual sore eyes and sore throat, then that was followed by heartburn, which got worse and worse.

When I posted on another forum for advice on this, the consensus was that it was nicotine withdrawal, how I cant imagine, as I wasn't giving up nicotine, and to basically continue till my body got used to it.

My body didnt !

In fact it got worse and worse, till I was medicating with various anti heartburn meds, three or four times a day.

Then it got worse, I got the runs, not just once or twice a day, but all day, till I was so weak, I could hardly stand.

This was the turning point... no way was I going to put up with this any longer, nor was I going back to smoking, so I made up my own e-juice.

First of all it was simply a little of a PG juice mixed with VG and flavourings, and almost instantly the horrid symptoms died down significantly.

I then ordered the Ecopure Rich Tobacco, which is VG based, and the symptoms have almost gone completely.

I say almost, as I still get a little heartburn occasionally, but that, I think is down to me over vaping...lol

This thread has been most useful to me, as I just didnt think about how I could be unwittingly using PG products in day to day products, so I will be checking things out from now on.

Thank you ladies.

 

[Spikey]

Do a search in the health forum for PG Allergy.. I listed all the symptoms I had and VG cured them alol. Only prob with VG is mild stomach acidity... but a cracker or pretzel once in a while cures that quick Vg rules!

I heard LiquidXpress is starting to sell VG but I usually order from Johnson Creek also (NON PG)... they only have a few good flavors. Best ones are..
Peach Cobbler
Vanilla Ice Cream
Tennessee Cured
Arctic Mint
Sweet Strawberry

Other flavors seem hit and miss.

I also mix my own using loranns and heritage VG. I make a great watermelon and my butterscotch is tasty too

 

[bmacva]

Best ones are..
Tennessee Cured

Spikey, what is Tennessee Cured? Is that a Tobacco flavor?

Suspecting I had a PG allergy, I ordered the non-pg from JC also. I got their Hawaiian Kona Coffee and Original. I like them both. I will definitely be ordering from them again.

 

[bmacva]

Wow Christena, so sorry to hear of all of your difficulties!

A week after starting vaping, I developed a severe case of hives. I first suspected the PG but even after I stopped it, the hives continued. I saw my dermatologist yesterday who thinks that my quitting smoking has produced a "stress" in my body. I thought it was BS. LOL. She had never heard of e-cigs...I showed it to her and she was fascinated. And she did say..... DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....

DON'T STOP THE ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE!!!!

Then I saw my regular doctor today who said that external stress can produce chemicals that the body reacts to internally and that's what could be causing the hives. She said (and of course this is only her opinion), that she doubts I have any type of allergy to PG since so many products have PG in it. She didn't comment on my e-cig use but did seem to know about it.

I know that everyone reacts differently and health care practitioners all have their opinions. Thing is, what do they know? LOL

 

[nziese]

Can someone tell me what the health risk of VG are?

 

[Mary Kay]

Who knows? This stuff is new so there has not been studies and tests and the like to tell us what the hazards of vaping PG, VG and Glycerin are. Since V.G. is just Glycerol derived from vegitable oil..(I think..yeah I am pretty sure) how harmful could it be? LOL
* as they draged her off to the clinic her last words were"but they said it was safe*

 

[Spikey]

Spikey, what is Tennessee Cured? Is that a Tobacco flavor?

Suspecting I had a PG allergy, I ordered the non-pg from JC also. I got their Hawaiian Kona Coffee and Original. I like them both. I will definitely be ordering from them again.

TC is a nutty sort of taste... maybe similar to 555 but I have never tried 555. I have heard it described and it sounds like TC. I guess it ia like Riskee Yuice with no sweetness or caramel flavoring lol It is a light flavor... but is not sweet or fruity. Maybe some reviews in the liquid review section.. check them out. Maybe you can get a better idea. I have some in zero nic. I could send you a taster sample if you want.. PM me.

Can someone tell me what the health risk of VG are?

None of us know yet. We are all so uninformed... but it will take time to get studies done

 

[mamu]

I then ordered the Ecopure Rich Tobacco, which is VG based, and the symptoms have almost gone completely.

I can vouch for ECOpure also for clearing up sensitivities and allergic reactions that some liquids cause. ECOpure has 4 primary ingredients: nicotine, glycerine, ethyl maltol, and deionized water. The menthol ECOpure of course also has menthol added. It states on the bottle <1% other (I suspect this is the secret ingredient).

I'm not allergic to PG (at least I don't think I am), but I was getting a rash and mouth ulcers from a few of the liquids I vaped. I'm pretty sure it was from one or more of the flavorings added to the liquid.

I was also getting some kind of weird harsh accumulation in the back of my throat that seemed to ooze up from my lungs. Very uncomfortable feeling in the back of my throat where I had to keep swallowing or gulp down a lot of water.

I few days on ECOpure and I was once again a happy camper with all the symptoms clearing up.

I've tried all the ECOpure flavors except Fresh which is unflavored liquid. It's actually quite good. Clean, light, fresh taste. I've also found that the 18 mg gave too much of a throat hit. So my second order was for the Medium strength which is perfect with the throat hit.

 

[blueeyekelly]

Ok nothing really to do with PG but all hypoallergenic and things labeled like that in the cosmetic industry there are no guild lines so all it means is that the manufacture thinks it will irritate people less. So basically it does not mean anything. If you know something is an irritant to you read the ingredient label to avoid it. All cosmetics have to list the ingredients. (same thing goes for sensitive skin stuff as for the hypoallergenic stuff...)