Smoking can speed up the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles and lines. Nicotine in cigarettes narrow blood vessels in the outer layers of skin and reduce blood flow to these areas and as a result your skin is deprived of the oxygen and nutrients. Fine lines above the lips and elsewhere on your face are the most visible, but smoking also causes wrinkles in inner arms. Skin changes may occur after only 10 years of smoking.

 More than 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke also damage collagen and elastin, which are fibres that give your skin its strength and elasticity so skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely because of smoking.

Smoking has unpleasant temporary cutaneous and mucosal effects such as temporary yellowing of fingers and fingernails, discoloured teeth and black hairy tongue, facial wrinkles and furrows, baggy eyelids and slack jawline, uneven skin colouring: greyish, yellow with prominent blood vessels and dry skin.

How it can be prevented?

• Stop smoking.
• Wash face and body with mild, moisturizing soaps or liquid cleansers to limit dryness, and to avoid wrinkles.
• Moisturize your skin while it’s still damp with a coenzyme Q10 cream or gel. It contains antioxidant which protect our skin from substances that broke down collagen.
• Apply Vitamin E, it reduces depth of wrinkles.
• Vitamin C rich foods such as oranges, grapefruits, papayas and red bell peppers, they are building block of collagen and is also a potent antioxidant.
• Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you go outdoors as Sun exposure is the leading cause of wrinkles.

Smoking and Wound Healing

Smoking increases the risk of wound infection, graft or flap failure, death of tissue and blood clot formation and delays risk of wound healing, including skin injuries and surgical wounds.

Smoking contributes to the development and persistence of leg ulcers, particularly arterial ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers and calciphylaxis.

“Smoking cigarettes doubles the risk of developing a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma and risk of oral leukoplakia, compared to non-smokers. 75% of cases of oral cancer and lip cancer occur in smokers.”

“Smokers usually die about 13 to 14 years early than non-smokers. Smoking increases your chances of having panic attacks, anxiety disorders, and depression. These conditions indirectly influence the health of your skin.”