Does smoking cause wrinkles? It sure does! Among the many negative effects of smoking, tobacco does speed up the aging process in one's skin. And guess what? This damage is irreversible. Why and how does smoking attribute to this damage? When one smokes a cigarette, the blood vessels in the layers of one's skin are restricted. Blood flow is impaired and oxygen and other important vitamins and nutrients are depleted. The skin's collagen and elastin are also damaged (these are fibers that give the skin its strength and elasticity). Therefore, the skin WILL wrinkle and sag in a most untimely manner. Not to mention, the replication of one's smoking mannerisms (cigarette to mouth over and over again) creates more exposure to the toxins of a burning cigarette. Additionally, the facial expression one makes when smoking such as the squinting of eyes, or the puckering of the lips when inhaling, may contribute to wrinkles. A known fact - smokers in their forties have as many wrinkles as a non smoker in his or her sixties. Imagine that! According to the Archives of Dermatological Research, a study proved that cigarette smoking DID affect one's skin. Cigarette smoke was pumped through a saline solution for two seconds every minute. Tiny drops of this solution was added to dishes of human cells called fibroblasts (cells that produce collagen.) After one day elapsed, the skin cells were tested. It was found the cells exposed to cigarette smoke produced less collagen by up to 40 percent. Which in turn is most likely what causes premature wrinkles in smokers. Less strength to the skin, more premature aging. Do you really fancy going to collect your kids from school as a premature 60 year old? This is not meant as scare-mongering - this is fact. You are increasing the wrinkles on your face with every drag of the cigarette you take. You are damaging your face every day. This is a major negative effect of smoking, and if you want to limit the damage, quit the habit now. Quite simple. Among the many negative effects of smoking? Wrinkles. |
