Of all the smoking facts, the most important would be smoking is bad for your health. It can lead to very serious consequences such as lung cancer, bronchitis, pneumonia.
The effects of smoking on the health are very serious and well known. However there are some other less serious consequences of smoking too.
Smoking is bad for the health of the skin too. It causes premature skin aging, fine lines, wrinkles and leads to sallow and unhealthy skin.
Here are some other facts about smoking. Take time to read through them and get to know the effects of smoking on the skin if you want to retain a youthful complexion.
SMOKING FACT #1
Smoking causes the skin to age prematurely and fine lines and wrinkles to develop. Why?
Smokers tend to pucker their mouth when they puff on their cigarette. The constant contractions of the muscles around the area of the mouth cause wrinkles to develop around the mouth.
SMOKING FACT #2
This is another reason why smokers tend to develop fine lines and wrinkles. Smokers tend to close their eyes tight to avoid cigarette smoke in their eyes. Wrinkles may also develop around the eyes.
SMOKING FACT #3
Smoking causes the carbon monoxide levels in the blood to increase. This promotes the formation of age-inducing free radicals.
SMOKING FACT #4
Nicotine has adrenaline-like effects. It causes blood vessels to constrict. That reduces oxygen supply to the tissues. Heavy smokers have an almost five-fold increased risk of wrinkles compared to those who don’t.
SMOKING FACT #5
Smoking also delays wound healing. In a study of 120 women undergoing laparotomy (exploratory surgery), women who smoked had poorer scars compared to non-smokers.
SMOKING FACT #6
Smoking causes many health problems, some of which are serious and life threatening. Smoking has been known to cause lung cancer.
SMOKING FACT #7
Smoking also depletes the body’s stores of Vitamin C. In one study, smokers with similar intake of Vitamin C had consistently lower blood Vitamin C levels compared to non-smokers. Vitamin C is involved in the synthesis of collagen and is a powerful anti-oxidant in itself.
SUMMARY OF SMOKING FACTS
In summary the effects of smoking on the skin are:
Reduces blood flow to the skin
Causes the skin to look dry and sallow
Encourages wrinkles to develop around the mouth and “crow’s feet” around the eye
Stains the skin and teeth
Causes the stale tobacco smell
Causes the premature skin ageing and wrinkling
Delays wound healing
The following are the effects of smoking on the face:
Puckered mouth from smoking action
Wrinkles around the eyes due to squinting to avoid the smoke
Pale complexion due to nicotine constricting blood vessels
Thinned, sagging wrinkled skin due to loss of collagen from free radical damage
Smoking is a very addictive habit that causes a lot of harm to the body.
IF YOU DON’T SMOKE, DON’T START
IF YOU SMOKE, QUIT SMOKING NOW
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