Dr. Becky Maes - Is It Bad For You? Approved by Dr. Becky Maes

Is Glycerin Bad For You?

Also Known As: glycerol, glycerine, vegetable glycerin


Grade

B


Short answer

Glycerin can be very beneficial for your skin and is generally not harmful unless used unwisely. In terms of vaping vegetable glycerin, more research is needed to conclude what the long-term effects may be.

Grade

B


Long answer

Glycerin is a viscous liquid which is commonly used in many beauty and skin care products, including soap and moisturizer. It is primarily included in these products because it is known to contain properties that lock moisture into the skin and prevent it from drying, but glycerin can also have other positive effects on your skin.

Glycerin has many properties that can contribute positively to healthy skin. The most common benefit of glycerin in skin products is its ability to absorb moisture from the air and retain it in order to hydrate and moisturize your skin. It also strengthens the epidermal layer of the skin it is applied to in order to lock moisture into the skin and keep out any harmful substances. Furthermore, glycerin eliminates dead skin cells that have clumped together by breaking down the clumps these dead cells eventually form. Glycerin can even help repair skin cells and heal bruises and fungal infections at an increased rate.

Products containing glycerin are generally safe and even beneficial to use on your skin. However, like almost any other substance, pure glycerin can have rare harmful effects on your health in certain situations. Most of these effects can be prevented by taking certain precautions. For example, you should not use pure glycerin on your skin in excessively hot and dry weather because it can suck moisture out of your skin and cause blisters to develop. Furthermore, women should not use pure glycerin on or near their genitals, as it can cause yeast infections.

When it comes to vaping e-cigarette juices that include vegetable glycerin, the effects on the body are less clear. It has been proven to cause dry mouth, sore throat, and increased thirst in some, however, long-term research has yet to prevail. Although many studies suggest that there is nothing to worry about, it is still good to keep in mind that vaping glycerin is fairly new and only time will tell what the true long-term effects are.


Possible short-term side effects

  • blisters
  • yeast infection
  • dry mouth (e-cig use)
  • sore throat (e-cig use)
  • increased thirst (e-cig use)


Benefits

  • hydrates and moisturizes skin
  • strengthens epidermal barrier
  • eliminates dead skin cells
  • repairs skin cells
  • treats fungal infections
  • treats bruises

Healthier alternatives

  • natural glycerin



Thank you for your feedback!

Written by Shaylie F
Published on: 12-29-2015
Last updated: 12-22-2016

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by Shaylie F
Published on: 12-29-2015
Last updated: 12-22-2016




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