No, there is no correlation between nicotine pouches and acne. Nicotine affects the way your brain releases different dopamines, which affects your mood. However, there is no correlation between nicotine pouch use and skin conditions like acne.
Nevertheless, there are some cases where different types of nicotine could cause various skin problems. For example, smoke from nicotine inhalants can cause clogged pores. Long-time smokers can experience a form of acne called atypical post-adolescent acne (APAA).
Is your acne caused by nicotine, and is there a way to avoid it? We've got the facts laid out for you to help you understand your flare-ups.
What Causes Acne & Their Types?
Acne is primarily caused by four factors, which might occur individually or collectively. These three factors are:
- Excess Sebum Production: Sebum is a natural oily substance made up of lipids, waxes, and other minor molecules. It's a natural substance produced by the sebaceous glands to protect against moisture loss, damage, and infections.
- Dead Skin Cells: Your skin loses a lot of cells per day and it is naturally reproduced by your body. However, sometimes the dead skin cells lead to clogged pores, which creates acne.
- Poor Hydration: Dehydrated skin is a playground for acne because your skin doesn't get the right moisture. Dead skin cells increase, and you get more clogged pores, which leads to acne increase.
- External Contamination: Smoke, toxins, and excessive amounts of steroids can also cause acne. These contaminants aggravate your skin condition by oxidative damage.
Types of Common Acne
Factors like sebum production, dead skin cells, poor hydration, and contaminants can cause different types of acne. Here are some common types of acne:
- Atypical Post-Adolescent Acne (APAA): This type of acne usually occurs in adults because of external contaminants, stress, or other lifestyle choices.
- Blackheads and Whiteheads: These are small bumps caused by clogged pores, usually filled with a coagulated mixture of dead skin cells and sebum.
- Hormonal Acne: Usually found in teenagers, this type of acne is caused by internal hormonal changes in the body. Women going through pregnancies may also experience hormonal acne.
- Fungal Acne: As the name implies, fungal acne is caused by yeast buildup in hair follicles. This happens mostly because of external contaminants coming into contact with your skin.
Identifying the type of acne you're experiencing is the first step to solving your problem.
Other Side Effects of Nicotine on Skin
While there are numerous nicotine pouch side effects, there aren't any major side effects on the skin. Nicotine pouches contain powder, sweeteners, stabilizers, and nothing else that could cause direct damage to the skin. Naturally, nicotine pouches don't affect your skin health.
Other forms of nicotine, like cigarettes, vapes, and hookahs, can cause oxidative stress, wrinkling, aging skin, and, in some cases, even skin cancer. Cigarettes have been associated with an increased concentration of SCC.
Do Nicotine Pouches Cause Acne? The Facts
Using nicotine pouches does not cause acne in any way or form. Nicotine pouches are tobacco and smoke-free alternative to cigarettes that you put in your mouth. While these pouches have a slew of potential side effects like nicotine addiction, they cannot cause acne.
The main reason nicotine is sometimes correlated to acne is because of the vasoconstrictor effect. Nicotine constricts your blood vessels, reducing blood supply to the skin. It increases skin aging and wound healing, which could be a reason for acne breakouts.
However, there are no studies to back or measure the vasoconstrictor effect of nicotine in pouches. Most of the research is around cigarettes and vapes. For now, the use of nicotine pouches is not related to acne or skin health.
Does Other Forms of Nicotine Cause Acne?
Yes, other forms of nicotine, like cigarettes, vapes, hookahs, and sheeshas, can cause acne. The main reason for this is the way the smoke interacts with your body and the skin. We've looked at each nicotine product and its correlation with acne below.
Do Cigarettes Cause Acne?
Yes, cigarettes can cause acne because of the heated smoke and contaminants. An average cigarette contains 7000 toxins that can wreak havoc on your skin. This happens because of two reasons:
- Smoking cigarettes can constrict the blood supply to your skin through microvascular constrictions. This has a dire effect on Keratinocytes and collagen. The latter is responsible for skin elasticity and rejuvenation.
- Cigarette smoke causes oxidative damage to your skin through contaminants like ROS and RNS, which damage lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. It's why smokers have a paler and more wrinkly appearance.
Cigarette smokers are more likely to experience APAA, hormonal acne, blackheads, and whiteheads. The oxidative damage is also associated with nicotine-induced hair loss. If you're experiencing APAA or other acne breakouts, it's time you quit smoking.
Do Vapes Cause Acne?
Vapes have propylene glycol, which irritates the skin and causes oxidative damage. The vapors irritate your skin, contaminate it, and clog your pores which causes acne flare-ups. These vape liquids contain nicotine and copious amounts of other contaminants, which could cause skin oxidative stress and other problems.
Another problem with vapes is the vasoconstrictor effect which limits nutrient and blood supply to your skin. The effects on the skin include increased acne and a pale tone. It means vaping causes acne, particularly APAA and hormonal acne.
Do Sheeshas and Hookahs Cause Acne?
Sheeshas and Hookahs are gaining popularity in the US purely for aesthetic reasons. These products contain a tobacco paste that is heated with coal and produces vaporous smoke. This smoke is loaded with contaminants and countless particles that can lead to skin acne.
Sheeshas and hookahs generally contain a lot of heavy particles that can cause inflammation. These products are also well-known for creating excessive mucus buildup in your lungs. It can cause significant damage to your skin, hair, eyes, and blood vessels.
Nicotine Withdrawal and Acne
When you quit nicotine products, one of the withdrawal symptoms is a breakout of acne. It takes a while for your body to adjust to the purge of nicotine and contaminants. Your body gives a counter-effect when faced with the prospect of losing that addiction.
If this happens, please don't panic; this is a temporary side-effect. Quitting nicotine products is better for your overall health and you'll see the results after the initial weeks. You should see APAA symptoms clearing up after the first two weeks with good skincare routines and hydration.
Skin Care Tips to Prevent Acne
Here are some tips to keep acne away while you're quitting or using nicotine products:
- Stay hydrated by drinking enough water every day (Male = 3.7 Litres, Females = 2.7 Litres)
- Moisturize your skin with a hypoallergenic or any other suitable cream
- Wash your face with a suitable face wash at least 3 times per day
- Use a sunscreen SPF 50 or 60 (non-sticky if you have an oily face)
- Wash your pillow covers frequently to avoid dead skin buildups
- Use Vitamin infused serums to get rid of acne marks
- Do not pop your acne under any circumstance
- Use a salicylic acid topical solution once per week to remove clogs
FAQs - Nicotine and Acne
1. Do ZYN nicotine pouches cause acne?
No, ZYN nicotine pouches do not cause acne. While the side effects of nicotine pouches are many, none of these side effects include acne or other skin conditions. The same applies to all other brands of nicotine pouches.
2. Do nicotine patches cause acne?
No, nicotine patches do not cause acne. However, because of the nicotine concentration, these patches may leave a rash or redness on the area they are applied to. These patches have no other major side effects.
3. What are the side effects of nicotine pouches?
The side effects of nicotine pouches include nicotine dependence, gum recession, indigestion, gut microbe imbalance, and dry mouth and throat. One of the biggest side effects of nicotine pouches is addiction, which leads to other problems like depression and anxiety.
Conclusion: Nicotine Pouches Do Not Cause Acne
There is no valid information or research that states nicotine pouches can lead to acne. These are smoke and tobacco-free alternatives to cigarettes which do not affect your skin in any way. Other forms of nicotine like cigarettes, vapes, and hookahs contribute to acne because of their contaminated smoke.
The easiest way to avoid nicotine-induced acne is to quit nicotine altogether. You can quit nicotine pouches altogether with the best nicotine-free pouches. Order your batch today to get rid of that acne and every other side effect of nicotine.
