Smoking and your skin

Smoking is one of the most controllable causes of disease and death today. It is known for directly contributing to heart and lung disease, but the damaging effects to the skin are less known and often ignored. Smoking can cause poor wound-healing, collagen degradation, abnormal skin growths, oral cancers, deep wrinkling and premature skin aging, as well as a dull, sallow appearance.

Healthy skin function requires oxygen, and smoking causes a restriction of oxygen flow to the skin cells. One cigarette causes vasoconstriction for up to 90 minutes. Additionally, the carbon monoxide in cigarettes binds with oxygen and prevents it from reaching the skin cells. Smoking also causes an increase in the enzyme responsible for breaking down collagen. This accelerated degradation of collagen in conjunction with the repeated lip-pursing and eye-squinting during inhalation also contributes to increased severity of wrinkling and skin aging ……. especially in female smokers.

Therefore, the best way to combat aging skin in smokers, is to eliminate the smoking! That will do more good than any amount of serums or services ever could! Your lungs, and your skin, will thank you.