You’re probably well-aware that smoking can devastate your health and reduce your life expectancy. But, just as it ruins your inside, smoking does serious damage to your outside. No matter how strict your skincare routine or how pricey your products, smoking can set off an avalanche of premature aging.
The mechanisms at work.
According to Nicholas Perricone, M.D., the connection between smoking and premature aging is significant. He explains, ”When we inhale just one cigarette, more than a trillion free radicals are produced in our lungs, which can trigger an inflammatory response that circulates throughout the body.“
After smoking for 10 years, for example, irreversible changes to the skin can be seen. According to Mayo Clinic, the characteristic sagging and wrinkling noticed on a smoker’s skin occurs when the blood vessels in the top layer begin to narrow, which prevents skin from getting oxygen and other necessary nutrients. In addition, smoking damages the very fibers that keep your skin strong and supple — collagen and elastin. Wrinkles also occur around the lips due to the repeated pursing action made every time you smoke a cigarette.
Smoker’s face. In 1985, the term, ”smoker’s face“ was added to the medical dictionary. It’s defined as ”lines or wrinkles on the face, particularly radiating at right angles from the upper and lower lips or corners of the eyes, deep lines on the cheeks or numerous shallow lines on the cheeks and lower jaw. A subtle gauntness of the features, with prominence of the underlying bony contours.“
Whether or not you’re concerned about skincare now, deep lines and gauntness aren’t on anybody’s top 10 list of healthy, beautiful skin. And while anti-smoking campaigns might not focus on skincare as a platform for quitting, the ugly truth of smoker’s face is quite motivating for anyone to stop.
Undoing the damage. Even if you already see the results of smoking on your skin, it isn’t too late to take action. There are plenty of skincare products available that smooth fine lines, dull skin and dark circles. Consider a skincare product that contains antioxidants, which fight free radicals.
To help rebuild your skin’s natural barrier, try MD Formulations Moisture Defense Antioxidant Lotion. Smooth fine lines with a serum like . Finally, don’t neglect the eye area. A gentle product like Dr. Michelle Copeland Rewind Eye Formula contains idebenone, a breakthrough wrinkle-fighting ingredient.
See also:
Foundations of Youth: Collagen and Elastin
Two of a Kind: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Aging
Boost Your Night-time Routine for Beautiful Skin