Smoking Effects On Skin

Effects Of Smoking On Your Skin

Here is an interesting photo, taken of twins. One is a smoker, one is not. Can you tell which one is the smoker? Although both have skin damage from sun exposure without protection, you can see other obvious signs of smoke damage on the smoking sister.  Look around the eyes. They are the first to tell your secrets.

Why Does Smoking  Damage Your Skin?

Smoking is one of most damaging practices  one can engage in when it comes to your skin. How does smoking lead to wrinkles and other skin damage? Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. This impairs blood flow to your skin, depleting it of oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity.  As a result, skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely.

The first thing you notice about a smoker is “dull skin”. It is a bit difficult to quantify and measure, but its almost as if their skin has no real tone or “life”. Most folks describe dull skin as skin that “does not glow”, “looks pale”, “looks lifeless”, or “is not dewy”.  Also, smoking causes a tremendous amount of free radical damage.

All in all, smoking is the fastest way to create premature skin aging , ranking right up there with super agressive sun damage.  If you are smoking, STOP. I know it is easy for me to say, but you must at least make a serious effort to stop if you want healthy skin. After only 10 years of smoking, this damage can not be reversed, but we do our best.

It may interest you to know some plastic surgeons feel so strongly about this that they will not consider operating on a smoker. Everything from actual surgery, to outcome, to healing time is negatively affected with a smoker.

Need Help Quitting?

If you need help quiting, email me. There are treatments available that work, but there is no “easy button”. You have to want it bad enough to endure the challenges as you break this damaging habit.

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