The Petit Vapoteur blog

Le Petit Dépanneur: Why Do I Get a Dry Throat When I Vape?

10/4/2024 / Beginners Corner , SOS VAPE

When I first started vaping, a long time ago now, I had a really dry throat for a few days, and I remember wondering why. It's actually pretty common to experience this sensation, especially during your first few sessions, if your PG/VG ratio isn't quite right. This is a fairly widespread phenomenon, and can be put down to several factors, including propylene glycol (PG), a key ingredient in e-liquids. In this article, we'll look at why this happens and how to fix it.

Propylene glycol is a clear, odourless liquid commonly used in e-liquids for e-cigarettes. It serves several purposes:

It carries the flavourings and nicotine.
It helps create that "hit" sensation, the little throat tickle that many vapers are after.

Outside of vaping, PG is also found in cosmetics and the food industry, where it's used as an additive and preservative.

Why Does PG Dry Out Your Throat?

PG is a hygroscopic substance, meaning it absorbs moisture from its surroundings. When you inhale an e-liquid high in PG, it can draw moisture away from your mucous membranes, particularly around the throat and mouth. This is exactly what causes that dry feeling.

Other Possible Causes of a Dry Throat

Besides propylene glycol, a few other factors can also contribute to throat irritation and dryness:

Nicotine: alongside its stimulant effect, nicotine can also irritate the throat. The higher the nicotine strength in your e-liquid, the more pronounced this sensation may be.
General dehydration: vaping regularly without drinking enough water can make that dry throat feeling worse.

How Can You Reduce This Dry Throat Feeling?

Drink more water
Vaping can lead to a loss of moisture, so it's important to make up for this by drinking more water. Keep a bottle close at hand at all times.
Switch to an e-liquid with more vegetable glycerine (VG)
Vegetable glycerine (VG), another common e-liquid ingredient, tends to be gentler on the throat and produces denser vapour. If you find PG is drying out your throat too much, go for an e-liquid with a higher VG content (for example, 70% VG and 30% PG).
Lower your nicotine strength
If you're experiencing ongoing irritation, try reducing the nicotine strength in your e-liquid. Lower doses can help ease that dry, irritated feeling.
Take breaks from vaping
Vaping too much can make these unwanted effects worse. Try spacing out your vaping sessions to give your throat a chance to recover.

Conclusion

A dry throat when starting out with vaping is often down to propylene glycol, but there are some simple solutions to help ease this discomfort. By drinking more water, adjusting your PG/VG ratio and cutting back on nicotine, you should be able to enjoy a much more pleasant vape. If these symptoms persist, don't hesitate to see a healthcare professional to rule out any other underlying cause.