Teen Hospitalized with Life-Threatening Skin Condition After Vaping in St. Petersburg

A 15-year-old girl in St. Petersburg, Russia, has been hospitalized in intensive care with a life-threatening skin condition diagnosed as toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) following the use of an e-cigarette.
According to Russian media reports, the teenager purchased a new vape liquid from a kiosk and used it throughout the day. By evening, she developed severe symptoms, beginning with a rash on her face, neck, and chest, followed by pain in her mouth and throat and acute difficulty breathing.
Her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to the formation of bleeding blisters and causing the top layer of her skin to peel off at the slightest touch. Paramedics were required to place her on a mechanical ventilator before transporting her to a hospital, where she was admitted to the intensive care unit. Doctors have reportedly stabilized her condition, but she will require plastic surgery to treat the extensive ulcers left by the severe reaction.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a rare but severe dermatological condition, often triggered by a reaction to medications or, less commonly, other substances. It causes the epidermis to detach from the lower layers of the skin.
Reports on the incident have noted that adverse reactions to the components in e-liquids are not uncommon. Propylene glycol, a primary ingredient in many vape liquids, is a known allergen, while other components like glycerin, flavorings, and nicotine can also cause adverse health effects.