Skin Health Acne Causes & Risk Factors Does Smoking Cigarettes Cause Acne? And what is the risk with vaping? By Angela Palmer Angela Palmer Facebook Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 05, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Casey Gallagher, MD Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology and works as a practicing dermatologist and clinical professor. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents "Smoker's Acne" What Smoker's Acne Looks Like Causes Incidence Vaping and Acne Frequently Asked Questions Smoking can affect pretty much every organ system in the body in one way or the other, including your skin. One of the more surprising consequences of smoking is that it can either cause or lead to the worsening of acne, especially in adults. This article explains how smoking affects the skin and helps lay the groundwork for an acne outbreak. It also looks at other skin-related complications of cigarette smoking and whether vaping has the same effect. fuzznails / Getty Images "Smoker's Acne" An increasing body of research has linked smoking to the onset of acne in adults. A study from the San Gallicano Dermatological Institute in Italy was among the first to suggest that smoking causes a specific type of acne known as atypical post-adolescent acne (APAA). This is a non-inflammatory form of acne that has a different disease pathway from the more common inflammatory acne. These findings point to what some researchers have dubbed "smoker's acne." What Smoker's Acne Looks Like APAA breakouts do not appear as the red, inflamed pimples typically associated with acne. Rather, it is characterized by the blockage of pores and the appearance of the following: Closed comedones: Better known as whiteheads, these look like small pimples without the redness. Non-inflamed open comedones: Also called blackheads, these are open spots on the skin that get clogged with oil and dead skin cells, causing dark specks. Smoker's acne can occur anywhere on the body, not just around the mouth. How Secondhand Smoke Can Cause Many Illnesses Causes Researchers have found that smoking triggers two responses that together contribute to the onset of APAA. The first is an increase in sebum peroxidation. Sebum is the oily substance found in pores that causes comedones whenever a pore is blocked. Peroxidation occurs when unstable molecules known as free radicals attack fatty acids (such as those found in sebum). The deterioration of fatty acids provides bacteria with the perfect host environment to thrive. The second response is decreased vitamin E production. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that prevents free radicals from causing peroxidation. Cigarette smoke decreases vitamin E by degrading the fatty acids that transport the micronutrient throughout the body. This allows free radicals to reap further havoc on sebum in skin pores. These findings were confirmed by a 2015 study from the Ohio State University in which hydrocarbons (a type of free radical) found in cigarette smoke were believed to be the culprit behind APAA. What Is Smoker’s Flu? Incidence According to the Italian research, smokers are four times more likely to have acne than non-smokers. Cigarette smokers are also at higher risk of non-inflammatory acne. Of the 1,046 people participating in the study, three-quarters of those with non-inflammatory acne were smokers. The number of cigarettes smoked didn't seem to have any effect on the severity of breakouts. However, people who had acne in their teen years were four times more likely to experience smoker's acne as an adult. Here are some more specifics about what researchers found: 42% of the smokers had acne, compared to 10% of non-smokers.76% of those with non-inflammatory acne were smokers.91% of smokers with acne had the non-inflammatory form.81% of those with severe non-inflammatory acne were smokers. What Is Thirdhand Smoke? Related Conditions Acne inversa (hidradenitis suppurativa) is another skin condition that has been linked to smoking. It is a chronic disorder that can leave visible scars, most commonly in middle-aged female smokers. While acne inversa looks similar to "regular" acne, it only occurs in certain areas of the skin, specifically around apocrine glands that secrete sweat (as opposed to sebaceous glands that secrete sebum). Unlike APAA, acne inversa is inflammatory. Acne inversa is not "acne" in the traditional sense of the word. Rather, it is a condition in which the chronic inflammation of the apocrine glands causes acne-like bumps, mainly in the armpits, groin, thighs, or buttocks. The accumulation of pus in pores can lead to infection, resulting in tissue injury and irreversible scarring if not treated appropriately. What Causes Acne Scars? Acne scars are the result of inflammation. Persistent swelling causes tissues of the wall of a pore to break down. The weakened tissues then collapse into the pore, causing a scar. Shallow ones can heal quickly, but deeper scars can develop if the contents of the blemish spill into surrounding tissue, causing deeper tissue damage. How to Prevent Acne Scars Does Vaping Cause Acne? Like smoking, vaping can cause serious health concerns. But, compared to cigarette smoke, vaping produces far fewer hydrocarbons and theoretically poses less risk insofar as acne is concerned. This doesn't mean that vaping poses no risks. E-cigarettes contain a substance called propylene glycol that is known to cause dehydration of the tissues of the mouth and skin. Nicotine in e-cigarettes has the same effect. While there is no clear connection between vaping and acne, skin dehydration will almost invariably increase sebum production as the body works to keep the skin moisturized. Increased sebum production, in turn, is linked to an increased risk of acne vulgaris—the most common form of acne—particularly in people with acne-prone skin. And, although vaping is not associated with scarring the same way that acne can be, it can cause oral lesions, burn injuries, and a red, itchy rash called contact dermatitis caused by exposure to certain chemicals in heated e-cigarette vapors. There is also evidence that nicotine used in most e-cigarettes causes abnormal skin changes that can lead to premature skin aging. Is Vaping Better Than Smoking? Summary Cigarette smoking can lead to a non-inflammatory form of acne called atypical post-adolescent acne (APAA), or simply "smoker's acne." Smoking can also cause an inflammatory condition called acne inversa that can lead to irreversible scarring. Studies suggest that smokers are four times more likely to have acne than non-smokers. It is unclear if vaping has any direct association with acne. Even so, the dehydrating effect of chemicals in e-cigarettes can lead to increased sebum production which can, in turn, increase the risk of acne. A Word From Verywell If you've been trying to quit and have not succeeded, don't give up. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it takes an average of eight to 11 quit attempts before a person can permanently kick the habit. For some smokers, it can take up to 30. So if you haven't succeeded in quitting, try again. Under the Affordable Care Act, you may be entitled to full coverage of smoking cessation aids to help you in your attempts. Check the terms of your policy or call your insurer to understand what benefits are available to you. Smoking Cessation: How to Quit and What to Expect Frequently Asked Questions How does smoking affect the skin? Over the short term, smoking can cause the yellowing of the finger and nails and the darkening and discoloration of the tongue. Long-term effects include dry skin, deeper facial wrinkles, uneven skin tones, baggy eyes, lip wrinkles, and a saggy jawline. Are there smoker's acne treatments? Smoker's acne is a form of atypical post-adolescent acne (APAA), This is a non-inflammatory acne typically treated with a combination of two or more topical agents including topical antibiotics, topical azelaic acid, and topical benzoyl peroxide. Of course, stopping smoking is what will likely be most effective. How can quitting cigarettes improve acne? Smoking causes blood vessels in the skin to narrow. By quitting, those vessels can widen and provide more oxygen and nutrients to tissues. This, in turn, increases skin cell turnover, which can improve the quality of the skin as well as its ability to heal wounds like acne. Are there acne scar treatments? Acne scars can be treated with dermal fillers, collagen injections, steroid injections, laser resurfacing, and dermabrasion (for really deep scars). Does vaping cause acne scars? Vaping is not considered a risk factor for acne scarring, but there is evidence that it can contribute to other adverse skin changes, such as premature skin aging. Learn More: Causes and Risk Factor of Contact Dermatitis Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with acne can be frustrating. Our free guide provides expert tips to help you take control. Sign up and get yours today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 18 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. West R. Tobacco smoking: health impact, prevalence, correlates and interventions. 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