Influence of the Consumption of Conventional and Electric Cigarettes on Skin Circulation

The survey participants are divided into a smoking and non-smoking group. The smoker group is further divided according to the quantity and quality of nicotine ("normal" smoking, vaping). After reaching a steady state, the cutaneous blood flow at rest in the extremities of all participants is determined by Laser Doppler Imaging as a reference value. Laser Doppler Imaging produces images of the blood flow using perfusion units (PU). Subsequently, the perfusion is measured again after smoking/vaping. The difference in skin perfusion of the extremities is calculated (δ-Perfusion). All measurements are performed under controlled vital parameters (body temperature, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate) and controlled room temperature as well as 15-minute acclimatization of the patients.