Smoking - its effect on Skin & Physical Appearance

   Smoking is associated with premature aging and wrinkles. Smoking is also associated with very serious skin conditions, including squamous cell carcinoma of the skin(a type of skin cancer) and psoriasis. Awareness of the changes to physical appearance and the serious skin conditions associated with smoking may help motivate individuals to quit smoking.

Smoking accelerate the skin ageing process in the skin. Ageing of the skin means that it droops, develops wrinkles and lines and can become dry and coarse with uneven skin colouring and broken blood vessels (telangiectasia). Smokers can appear gaunt and develop an orange or grey complexion.

Since the 1970's studies have shown that smoking results in more premature facial wrinkling than sun exposure. Lines around the eyes called “crow's feet” can develop at an earlier age. Multiple vertical lines around the mouth also occur and are called “smoker's lines”. These effects continue into old age. 

There is also evidence that tobacco smoke is phototoxic. Smoke becomes more toxic in the presence ofultraviolet light (UV), such as is found in sunlight, and causes more damage to skin cells than either smoke or UV would cause on their own.

Changes to physical appearance

Ageing

As people age, their skin also ages. The ageing process is influenced by a number of environmental factors.Sun exposure is the most prominent risk factor for premature ageing. Although it is much less well known,cigarette smoking is also a risk factor for premature skin ageing.

Several studies have reported that cigarette smoking causes an individual's skin to age even more than exposure to sunlight does. Studies have also reported that the effect of exposure to tobacco smoke and sunlight at the same time is more dangerous than the combined effect of either exposure alone, and that women are at greater risk than men.

The ageing of skin can be measured by a number of features. Most obviously, skin becomes wrinkled. Wrinkling is caused by changes to skin elasticity and concentrations of skin components such as collagen and elastin. Differences in skin features between individuals who do and do not smoke can therefore be measured by physical appearance, or by analysing skin tissues for concentrations of components.