Why Does My Face Change When I Smoke Weed?

The question I will try to answer today is: Does smoking or ingesting marijuana semi-permanently change your looks? Acne, skin conditions, weight gain, prematurely age...

The effects of marijuana are vast. There is still a lot we don't know about the substance and how it affects us and our health conditions.

Scientific studies are becoming more and more available, but there are still a lot of restrictions. And there has been for a long time. We at HighAndShit expect a lot of new studies soon.

Does Smoking Marijuana Cause Acne?

Acne flare-ups are super annoying. In a perfect world, no one would have to deal with these. However, we do not live in a perfect world, and pretty much everyone has to deal with acne or pimples.

The Simple Answer

There is a simple answer to this and a better answer. No, there has been no proven study that indicates marijuana directly causes acne or skin problems.

The Better Answer

Smoking Weed does not directly cause acne, pimples, or other skin issues. However, it can change the way you live your life. It can change dietary intake, lifestyle changes, and hormone levels.

If you didn't already know, some foods cause could cause acne. WebMD has a brilliant article on the Best and Worst Foods for Acne. Smoking marijuana works as an appetite stimulant. Marijuana users tend to turn to sugar and carbs.

Sugar-laden snacks are super delicious, but unfortunately, the sugar gets into your bloodstream fast, requiring your body to produce more insulin (to bring the blood sugar down). This will affect hormones that boost oil production.

In addition to this, smoking marijuana will lessen the release of the thyroid-stimulating hormone. This depends on the amount of THC content your weed has and how much of it you smoke. Low levels of these hormones could lead to hyperthyroidism which could clog pores and lead to acne.

In the end, your body will be more susceptible to acne and/or pimples.

To counteract this, don't smoke a lot, and make sure your dietary intake is on point. This can be hard as marijuana is, for many, an appetite stimulant. My solution for this is to manage settings. Don't smoke marijuana with a cabinet full of candy. Plan out your munchies.

Marijuana Smoke: Is It Harmful To My Skin?

We all know that smoking cigarettes is bad for your skin, skin age, and so on. Bloodshot eyes come from an increased blood flow, which indicates that weed dilates blood vessels, increasing blood flow.

This is true. A marijuana high will increase blood flow and lowers blood pressure, but before it dilates the blood vessels, it constricts them. This deprives the skin of oxygen and will worsen skin conditions or even give you skin conditions.

In addition to this, marijuana smoke is also high in hydrocarbons which will, upon contact with your skin, damage collagen production.

Collagen production is vital for skin health. It protects it against air pollution and inflammation (inflammatory skin conditions). Less collagen means your skin is aging faster than it should, causing wrinkles and loss of elasticity.

Smoke, in general, is damaging. Marijuana smoke, tobacco smoke, all of it. Your entire body is better off without it. Unless you want dry skin, this includes secondhand marijuana smoke, although you're better off than the one smoking.

Will Marijuana Use lead to Oral Issues?

Yes, it can. There is an increased risk of oral complications.

First of all, THC, smoked or ingested, will reduce the amount of saliva your body can produce due to its effect on the nervous system.

The temporary dry mouth you might experience while high could evolve into the notably chronic dry mouth disorder or xerostomia.

This makes dry mouth permanent (for a while, at least). Saliva has an important role in oral health. Without sufficient saliva, you might face health risks such as

• Chronic bad breath

• Mouth sores

• Tooth decay

• Tooth loss

Saliva washes your mouth constantly. Without this ability, you stand at risk for more serious gum disease. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, occurs when unwanted bacteria have a suitable spot for flourishing. The saliva that was supposed to wash this away is no longer present.

Periodontal disease leads to inflammation in the oral tissues and bones that surround teeth. If periodontal disease is left untreated, tooth loss can occur.

Oral Problems can occur when smoking marijuana.

Weight Gain

If you weigh more, your face will also weigh more. Weight gain is not a certainty when smoking marijuana. But, as I've stated many times, marijuana will make you want to eat sugar-laden snacks, carbohydrates, and junk food in general.

This will make you gain weight. Cannabis users tend not to really consider what they ingest while high, and this could result in weight gain.

The human body is truly weird, especially the brain. From my own personal data, not eating sugar if I have it available is hard when stoned.

It is worth noting that some studies claim that cannabis will result in weight gain, but some studies claim it helps weight loss.

It is a truly difficult question to answer because everyone is different. Duration of use, age, health, gender, dietary intake, and comorbid polydrug use are all factors that have a say in your personal outcome.

I would recommend other methods than smoking for a lower body mass index. There are plenty of other ways to lose weight.

Conclusion

There are a lot of factors that all play a part in how you look. Marijuana smoke and consumption can give you an increased risk for acne, pimples, oral disease, and weight gain. All of which change the way you look.

There are countermeasures, and for me, the most important countermeasure is not to overdo anything. Keep everything in a balanced amount, and you'll likely turn out fine.

Good Luck!

-Freddie