Vaping and health/skin?

[Giraut]

I've had juices that claimed they were high VG and just looking at the viscosity, it was obvious they weren't. Pure VG is thick and almost gooey. It should coat the bottle when you tip it. When it gets cold, it runs out and doesn't drip out in drops.

That doesn't mean PG is used in the juice. Water and alcohol too thin out glycerin.

My juice supplier is far from one of the many fly-by-night shops I keep reading about here on ECF: it's a offshoot of the chemistry department of a well-know French university, and that pretty much guarantees they know what they're doing when they prepare juice, and what you read on the bottle's label is what you get. In fact, that's one the main reason why I get my juices from them and not from random dudes who happen to have a website and a Paypal account.

The other day, I was looking at a bottle of 100% VG pistachio-flavored juice from them, and found it very runny for something that's supposed to be pure glycerin. I sent them an email asking for explanations, as I'm intolerant to PG and don't want more than strictly necessary in my juices (there is some in the flavorings). They answered they thin out all their VG juices with water to make them vapeable as-is, and that no PG was used in my juices, as per my instructions. I believe them.

In any case, I thin out my own homemade VG juices too. The straight stuff just doesn't wick very well in most clearos at room temperature.

 

[Australe]

I've found the best product out of all the junk I wasted money on over the years is just good old coconut oil. I apply a small amount to my face in the shower, use a soft cloth to exfoliate my skin and warm water. Then I apply a little bit more before I get out of the shower, when I dry my face off any excess wipes away and absorbs really well. Even it just being winter puts your skin at extra risk for dryness. I use coconut oil for soooo many things

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[cg23]

I switched to vaping about a year ago; totally stopped the real cigs automatically. I knew my body was in real trouble, and I had to quit the cigs. The personal vaporizers saved my life, or at least gave me a few more years.

About your symptoms: the cigs were inhibiting the oxygen flow to your skin, gums, etc. and when you quit the cigs, the oxygen saturation rates improve dramatically in your capillaries. Personally, I had terrible side effects (or so I thought at the time); bleeding gums, terrible acne (and I am 59 years old!) and dry mouth. Started having some dental problems.

The biochemical changes in your body are normal, and always tell your MD about all this that happens to you. We all knew this would never be easy.

Some folks quit right away and never look back; others need more time. I was one of the instant converts. I Love My Egos and my Mountain Oak Vapors. Hang on and take care of yourself.

Thanks for sharing. Your testimony sounds like mine right now. I'm hanging in but this darn dermatologist appointment won't come fast enough.

 

[Deeo]

I will trade you for my quit zits

 

[BigFatDan]

Now how to fix this sandpaper skin of mine....really crimping my style!

I'm not sure what component in nicquids would cause dry skin, however.

Drop by your local Rite-Aid or CVS, any pharmacy store and pick up a bottle of "Gold Bond's ULTIMATE HEALING lotion". Just apply it once in the morning and once at night and your skin should be nice and soft again.

(I'm not recommending this because of nursing education, but I had a severe exacerbation of dry skin all throughout my hands, and within three days my hands were back to normal)

Only other thing I could tell you to combat the dry skin would be to drink a few cups of water per day.

 

[cg23]

Hi guys,

I have scoured the internet trying to find some connection but there aren't enough cases for me to feel certain that I'm having a reaction to the vaping or to the juice.

PROBLEM 1:
It's been about 40 days since I quit analogs. A few days into vaping, the skin on my face dried out like....like paper. Left alone, it would just peel off or I'd crack when I smile -- that kind of dry. I have been drinking nonstop water, nonstop iced tea, quit coffee and soda altogether --- to no avail. HELP. I have never had this much liquid in all of my life and still, it hasn't improved at all. Here I thought smoking cigs was bad for your skin...I'm going to be a prune in a few weeks.

PROBLEM 2:
Shortly thereafter, and I believe that this started after I got my new batch of juices from a new company, Velvet Cloud I would get this very sudden and very severe itchiness all over my body, like I have tiny ants crawling all over. But it only happened in my office originally, once a day; then in the last few weeks, it happens anywhere, about 2-3 times per day for about 10 minutes each, and then it's gone, like it never happened. I'll even get a rash or bite marks, or so it appears, except within half an hour, they are all gone too. Very weird. During this time, I've only vaped their juices -- nothing else.

Reading around, it's clear some have a reaction to PG in their juice. To my knowledge, all of my juices claim "100%VG", which I've only been sticking to because my friend who has vaped for much longer recommended sticking to VG-only. Again, based only on what I'm reading, a VG-allergy seems rare, at best.

Now what has really gotten me thinking is that yesterday, I received a new batch of juices from a new company, Mt. Baker. I ordered mostly "MaxVG" there, which I would guess is 100% or close enough.
Because I loved all of my new flavors, I have been smoking only those for the last 30 hours. And only a few minutes ago, I realized that for the FIRST time in more than a month, I have not had this itchy madness syndrome today, haha.

Assuming this continues....it would seem that VG is NOT the culprit, yes? Or are there different grades of VG?
Can it be a flavoring that one company uses that another doesn't?
It's quite fascinating!

Now how to fix this sandpaper skin of mine....really crimping my style!

Thanks for this thread. I too have some issues and trying to isolate the prob. Acne is out of this world. Itchyness is crazzzy. I drink water as suggested but like most of us, not nearly enough. Not to mention feeling like everyone is grossed out by my Zit fest. So glad i wasn't aware of this going in.....yet i still VAPE. Dermatologist appointment seems like forever. Good luck. I know....it sucks.

 

[Butters78]

My skin is silky smooth.

 

[Gato del Jugo]

Been thinking/remembering some more...


When I first quit cigs, I got a ton of weird things happening to me health-wise, especialy during the 1st month or two..

One of them was itchiness/tingling all over my skin (and this wasn't during the winter or anything)..

I remember reading that what happens is all these tiny nerve endings start growing back after you quit cigs, which causes the itchiness/tingling sensation..


But I never got any rashes or bumps or hives, though.. I think that's more reserved for mild allergic reactions

Also seems a little too "coincidental" that it stopped within a day or so after you stopped with the other juice.. my 2 juice-flavor allergic reactions behaved the same way


Hate to tell you, but strawberries can sometimes set it off...

And yeah, it can happen as a respiratory-reaction while vaping it, even if you're not allergic when eating it

 

[Dominique Hoogduin]

not sure if it really affects dry skin that much.. but hows the humidity in your home? I have had issues with extremely dry air in winter times causing headaches and nasal problems. Fixed it with a air humidifier wich keeps it at a recommended 50%.

 

[GraceK]

Been thinking/remembering some more...


When I first quit cigs, I got a ton of weird things happening to me health-wise, especialy during the 1st month or two..

One of them was itchiness/tingling all over my skin (and this wasn't during the winter or anything)..

Well, I spoke too soon.
For about 4 days off the original brand, the itching madness did disappear. And then it came back on day 4 or day 5. It seemed mild at first, and then in a few days it was back to the normal amount where intermittently throughout the day, I'd go crazy scratching my arms, legs, back, neck, chest and even scalp, only to have it completely disappear within the hour.

The upside was that since it wasn't brand-related, I could re-use my Strawb Gwab without fearing a reaction.
The downside was that I was back to square one.

At this point, it's the Strawb Gwab, Grape, Strawberry Shortcake, Cinnamon Roll, Moo Juice and Peach Tea that are in my normal rotation. I have not noticed any reprieve just because I stuck to one flavor for a day over another. I've vaped both the Mt. Baker and Velvet Cloud -- and all are 100% VG.

I had to go out of the country for a week, and there, it proceeded to get infinitely worse. I'd be relatively okay walking around town but upon coming back to the hotel and changing out of my clothes, the itchiness would start. I have a high pain tolerance but apparently, that does not apply to itchiness because it was to the point of scratching my legs until I left bleeding marks!

Immediately, I had to send the BF out for allergy medication -- stat. He came back with an antihistamine and within an hour, it had settled, like it normally does. But starting the next day, so long as I take this medicine once a day, it is GONE. No itchiness at all.

Now, almost three weeks later, I'm at a loss. I bought several more boxes of this medication and am STILL on it on a daily basis. On the occasions when I forget to take it in the morning, I am guaranteed to be reminded when I start scratching little bumps on my neck, chest, arm or back -- and then I realize I didn't take the meds that day.

I don't think I can stay on medication for the rest of my life, or perhaps I can? I don't know....but I don't WANT to.

My last stab at this is thinking it's vaping VG that is an issue for me. I just placed an order for 100% PG juice from Mt. Baker...and while I don't have a CLUE what that will taste like, haha -- I am willing to give it a shot.

Incidentally, as some of you guys mentioned it would -- the ridiculously dry skin issue has decreased significantly with massive oils, exfolation and time, I suspect. My cough was ridiculous for a couple of weeks, but is subsiding, at least in terms of phlegm, but the chest heaviness remains.... as if I smoked two packs last night. I wake up every morning telling my BF that I quit smoking cigs to get rid of so much body pain I was experiencing, and past the first two weeks when I felt great --- it's back nearly in full force. Rather disheartening.

Will post when I get my PG-juices and test them out for a week or so.
I've been reading around and I've found quite a few stories of people experiencing this massive itchiness with VG. I almost hope that's it, even if it means I give up my current huge collection of juices, just so I can get some unmedicated comfort AND feel good from NOT smoking analogs!

 

[Australe]

I hope you find a solution. How frustrating!

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[cbrite]

Thanks for this thread. I too have some issues and trying to isolate the prob. Acne is out of this world. Itchyness is crazzzy. I drink water as suggested but like most of us, not nearly enough. Not to mention feeling like everyone is grossed out by my Zit fest. So glad i wasn't aware of this going in.....yet i still VAPE. Dermatologist appointment seems like forever. Good luck. I know....it sucks.

Coconut oil will help with the breakout also. Just dab some on them. Not as a direct comparison, but I use it all the times when my dogs have a hot spot or infected bug bite and such. Gone usually in a day or two.

 

[RobG]

Good thing about VG if your doing DIY you can use it as a moisturizer as well.

 

[BigEgo]

It's difficult to swallow that I'd be allergic to VG but my only suspicion now is perhaps the content of the flavorings that the different companies use (different manufacturers?).

This is what I am thinking. I am convinced that most of these "allergies" are a result of something in the flavorings. This would explain why people get different reactions to different vendors even though the ratio of PG/VG remains the same.

 

[GraceK]

This is what I am thinking. I am convinced that most of these "allergies" are a result of something in the flavorings. This would explain why people get different reactions to different vendors even though the ratio of PG/VG remains the same.

Any inkling as to what in flavorings could make me this itchy, and make it progressively worse? I would agree, but I'm a little hardpressed to believe that two companies used the exact same flavors in the many bottles I have from them, no?

Well, if I get off the allergy meds and try the 100% PG....I guess I could draw a decent conclusion, since it's the same company and same flavors just in all PG. Anyway, thanks for the input!