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The Effects of Smoking on the Skin

Smoking is not only bad for health, it's bad for beauty. "Smoker's face" was added to the medical vocabulary in 1985. The English physician who coined the term, Dr. Douglas Model, was able to identify half of the smokers among his patients by their facial features alone. Skin damage from smoking isn't noticeable right away, and many smokers ignore the risk. Once the damage begins to manifest itself, unfortunately, it is often too late.

  1. Dehydration

    • Cigarette smoking can dehydrate the skin. As the cigarette smoke decreases the water content in the skin, wrinkling increases. The chemicals in smoke cause dehydration, especially arsenic and carbon monoxide. As these chemicals soak into the skin, the skin is deprived of oxygen, which results in dryness.

    Poor Circulation

    • The lack of oxygen caused by smoking does more than cause dehydration. It can cause blood circulation to slow down. This can lead to premature aging. Instead of a natural healthy glow, skin takes on a dull appearance.

    Wrinkles

    • The most prominent effect of smoking on the skin is wrinkles. Smoking's effects are similar to those of sun damage. The elastin that keeps skin supple begins to break into fragments and thickens each time an individual smokes a cigarette, according to the Mayo Clinic. People who smoke for an extensive period of time will find lines radiating from the corners of the eyes and lips.

    Skin Cancer

    • Melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma can also be induced by smoking. Smokers have an increased risk of developing these potentially lethal skin cancers. The National Center for Biotechnological Information determined that people who smoke are more likely to die from skin cancers like melanoma. According to the Massey Cancer Center of Virginia Commonwealth University, cancers affecting the mouth and lips are also more common in smokers than nonsmokers.

    Considerations

    • Because it is difficult to reverse the damage that smoking causes to the skin, individuals who smoke should consider the risk. Former smokers may repair some damage by maintaining an excellent diet, investing in anti-aging skin care products and using skin supplements.

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