The Role of Legal Addictive Substances in Skin Pathologies: A Literature Review

December 2025 in “ International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science ”

Marcin Durowicz, Sylwia Bartolik, Karolina Bieńkowska, Jan Drzymała, Iwona Górnicka, Anita Janda, Urszula Kierepka, Aleksandra Pastuszek, Radosław Pastuszek, Magdalena Rosiewicz

nicotine alcohol oxidative stress microcirculation immune responses collagen metabolism wound healing inflammatory skin diseases neoplastic lesions skin aging e-cigarettes alternative nicotine products cigarettes vaping smoking drinking

TLDR Alcohol and nicotine harm skin health and speed up aging.

This literature review highlights the negative impact of legal addictive substances, specifically alcohol and nicotine, on skin health. These substances induce oxidative stress, disrupt microcirculation, modulate immune responses, and interfere with collagen metabolism, leading to impaired wound healing, exacerbation of inflammatory skin diseases, development of neoplastic lesions, and accelerated skin aging. While there are reports of nicotine's potential therapeutic benefits for certain skin conditions, the review emphasizes the need for more well-designed studies, especially considering the rising use of e-cigarettes and alternative nicotine products.

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