Last Updated on January 23, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Does juuling cause acne? People start because it’s kind of fun, kind of social, and honestly feels lighter than dealing with traditional cigarettes-no gross smell clinging to everything, no standing outside in the freezing cold trying to light up in the wind, just this tiny USB-looking thing that tastes like mango and fits in a pocket. For a while it feels like the smartest choice anyone’s ever made, way better than stinking like an ashtray, and then the breakouts start showing up.
First it’s a few pimples around the mouth that seem random, then more around the chin, then suddenly it’s a full-blown situation that won’t quit no matter what gets thrown at it, and that’s when the panic sets in wondering if this “healthier choice” is actually screwing everything up. In this article we’re figuring out what the hell is going on with vaping and skin, the side effects no one told you about, and what to do about it to fix these skin issues and get your clear skin back:
What Is Juuling?
Juuling is basically vaping but with a Juul device specifically (though at this point people throw the word around for any vape pen or electronic cigarette). The Juul looks like a sleek little flash drive, heats up vape liquid into vapor, and delivers nicotine without fire or smoke or any of that traditional cigarette nonsense. It exploded in popularity because it doesn’t look dorky, comes in flavors that actually taste good instead of like an ashtray, and the whole pitch was that it’s way less harmful than tobacco cigarettes because there’s no tar or carbon monoxide or the seven thousand other chemicals in cigarette smoke.
The main ingredients in vape juice are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin which create the vapor, nicotine for the buzz, and flavoring chemicals that make it taste like fruit or dessert or whatever. The device heats this liquid until it turns into an aerosol that gets inhaled into the lungs, absorbed into the bloodstream, and supposedly that’s it: nicotine delivered without exposing anyone to the negative effects of regular cigarettes. It seemed brilliant honestly, until you realise the adverse effects it has on your skin health. Let’s get into it.
Does Vaping Cause Acne Breakouts?
Here’s the deal: the research is frustratingly incomplete because vaping exploded so fast that science is still catching up. What we DO have is smaller pieces all pointing in the same annoying direction. A 2024 systematic review looked at all the research on e-cigarettes and skin and found exactly zero positive effects and plenty of negative ones: “Electronic cigarettes have been reported to contribute to the development of various skin diseases and be a source of thermal injury.” The study didn’t mention acne specifically, but it doesn’t paint a pretty picture either. Giving everything we know about the effects of nicotine on the skin, I’m inclined to believe there IS some correlation here.
What’s In Vape Juice And How Does It Affect Skin?
The base of vape juice is propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, which create that satisfying cloud. Both are hygroscopic, meaning they suck moisture out of everything around them. So every time someone vapes, they’re dehydrating their mouth, throat, and skin, and the body responds (to the skin dehydration, obvs!) by cranking up sebum production to compensate. Suddenly there’s excess oil everywhere mixing with dead skin cells and boom, clogged pores.
Then there’s nicotine, which constricts blood vessels and reduces blood flow to skin. Less blood flow means less oxygen and nutrients, which means breakouts last longer and heal worse. Nicotine also spikes cortisol levels (stress hormone) which triggers more androgen production, which tells sebaceous glands to make MORE oil. It’s a vicious cycle where vaping creates the exact conditions that cause acne.
Plus there are flavoring chemicals like cinnamaldehyde and eugenol that are known skin sensitizers. Studies show these cause oxidative stress in skin cells and trigger inflammatory responses and allergic reactions. And some vape pens leach heavy metals like nickel from the heating element, which can cause contact dermatitis (there are actual documented cases of people getting nickel allergies from their vapes, ugh!).
How To Tell If Juuling Is Causes Acne
Here’s what’s really telling: vapers report specific breakout patterns that are different from regular acne. The most common is perioral acne, which clusters around the mouth and chin where vapor is constantly hitting the skin. Makes sense when you think about vape liquid residue settling on skin and mixing with natural oils and dead skin cells to clog pores in that exact area.
But it’s not just face stuff. People are reporting back acne and chest acne too, probably because vapor residue settles on skin when lying down, plus all the systemic effects from nicotine messing with hormones. And there’s been an increase in cystic acne among vapers, which tracks because cystic acne is often hormone-related and nicotine is absolutely causing hormonal imbalances through cortisol spikes.
The “It’s Better Than Cigarettes” Defense Doesn’t Hold Up
A lot of people switched from regular cigarettes to the use of e-cigarettes thinking it would be better for their skin, and in some ways they’re not totally wrong: cigarette smoke has over 7,000 chemicals and definitely causes premature aging, fine lines, dull skin, all that stuff. Eliminating cigarette smoke removes carbon monoxide and a ton of harmful chemicals.
But here’s the problem: vaping introduces its own set of issues that can make acne WORSE even if it’s slightly less terrible for other skin stuff. A 2021 meta-analysis found smoking was a significant risk factor for adult acne, and all those mechanisms (nicotine screwing with stress hormones, oxidative stress, impaired healing) are present with vaping too. Some people report their skin actually got worse after switching to vapes, maybe because it’s easier to hit a Juul constantly throughout the day versus smoking a whole cigarette.
Is Vaping Doing Other Horrible Things To Skin Besides Just Acne?
Acne is honestly just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what vaping does to skin’s health, and in recent years dermatologists have been seeing all kinds of skin conditions popping up in vape users that have nothing to do with breakouts.
There’s the premature skin aging that happens because nicotine interferes with collagen production, which means the skin’s ability to stay firm and bouncy gets destroyed way earlier than it should and people end up with fine lines and sagging that makes them look older than they are. The breakdown of collagen also means the aging process speeds up dramatically, creating that dull complexion that comes from reduced oxygen supply and poor blood flow.
Some vape users develop skin rashes from being sensitive to the chemicals in vape juice, others get contact dermatitis or that nickel allergy we talked about earlier, and there’s also dry skin and dry mouth happening because those hygroscopic ingredients are sucking moisture out of everything. The loss of collagen combined with all the free radicals and harmful substances means the skin’s health takes a beating that goes way beyond just dealing with pimples.
What Happens When People Quit Juuling?
Here’s something weird: sometimes skin gets WORSE before it gets better when quitting vaping. During nicotine withdrawal, cortisol levels can spike as the body freaks out about not getting its fix, which can trigger temporary breakouts even while trying to do the right thing. But push through that and most people see clearer skin within weeks to months.
Blood vessels stop being constricted so skin gets oxygen again, hormones settle down, oil production regulates itself, and breakouts become less frequent. The skin barrier strengthens and people describe finally seeing their natural glow return. The catch is damage from long-term vaping might not be totally reversible. Years of vaping might have already caused collagen breakdown or acne scars that need professional treatment. Which is why quitting sooner is better than later.
Related: 8 Science-Backed Way To Rebuild Lost Collagen
The Bottom Line
Does juuling cause acne? The honest answer is it’s complicated but all signs point to yes. At minimum, it’s making things significantly worse. There’s no one definitive study proving it beyond doubt, but the mechanisms are clear: nicotine disrupts hormones and blood flow, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin dehydrate skin and trigger excess oil, chemicals cause skin irritation, and physical residue clogs pores.
For anyone serious about clear skin, a fancy skincare routine isn’t going to fix the problem if vaping is constantly creating hormonal chaos and inflammatory conditions. It’s like bailing water out of a boat while someone’s still drilling holes in the bottom. The proper skincare routine helps but it’s not addressing the actual issue, which sucks to hear but is probably true.
The research will keep evolving and in a few years we’ll have more definitive answers, but right now anyone struggling with persistent acne who also vapes has to seriously consider whether flavored clouds are worth the skin problems. Sometimes the inconvenient truth is still the truth even when it’s annoying as hell.
