SMOKING AND THE EFFECTS ON YOUR SKIN

We all know that smoking is bad for our health and causes all sorts of diseases including lung cancer and emphysema, but are you aware of what does it do to the largest organ of the body – the skin? Smoking greatly accelerates the aging process and leads to ’smoker’s face’ which is characterized by wrinkles, discoloration, dryness, sagging, thin skin, and sunken cheeks. Smokers tend to look 10 to 20 years older than their natural age.

The physical act of contracting certain muscles during smoking causes some of this skin aging. The puckering of the lips to draw in smoke causes deep vertical lines to form around the mouth. Also, squinting to avoid smoke getting in the eyes causes pronounced wrinkles and ‘crows feet’ to develop. The skin and nails become stained, discolored, and take on a stale tobacco odor.

On a deeper level, the carbon monoxide levels in the blood dramatically increase which in turn cause life-giving oxygen levels to deplete. Blood vessels constrict and skin takes on a dull, yellow-grey complexion with no glow or vitality. The hightened carbon monoxide levels also increase the formation of damaging free radicals again affecting how your skin looks. The skin’s healing time is also lengthened, so if you have acne prone skin, you are more likely to develop a scar. Another skin care problem contributed to smoking is that it depletes Vitamin C from the body. Since Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant involved with collagen production and skin hydration, it is essential in preventing the signs of aging.

If you are someone you know has recently quit smoking, it is essential to begin a skin care regimen that will exfoliate away dull skin cells, detoxify your skin, and add essential nutrients & vitamins. A series of microdermabrasion or glycolic/lactic acid peels will remove dead, dull skin cells to reveal a brighter, smoother complexion. Your skin care products will also penetrate and work quicker and better. You may alternatively use an intensive exfoliation system at home such as

It’s easy to ignore the negative effects that smoking can have on your health as you don’t physically see it happening on the inside of your body. But to now know what it could be doing to your skin and physical appearance, might be good motivation for a lot of you.