It is no longer that smoking affects the lungs, it has been said that smokers are liable to die young. However, apart from this, smoking also affects the skin.
Below are effects of smoking on the skin:
Premature aging
Constant smoking leads to premature aging, this reflects in different ways. Smokers are likely to develop what is known as smoker’s line, ‘Smoker’s lines’ are the vertical wrinkles around the mouth that come from pursing lips to draw on a cigarette over and over again.
Crow’s feet are a common type of wrinkling that develops at the outer edges of the eyes. For smokers, this damage usually starts much earlier than it does for other people, who get crow’s feet as they age.
Skin cancer
People who smoke are easily prone to skin cancer, this is because there is an increased risk from a lowered immune system due to the toxins in cigarette smoke. Therefore, there are increased chances of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) which can be as much as 52 percent higher than if you don’t smoke. SCC is the second most common form of skin cancer and often appears on the lips of smokers.
Prolonged wound healing
Constant smoking makes it difficult for wounds to heal in time. Lack of blood flow slows the body’s ability to repair itself. Smoking also increases the risk of wound infection, skin graft failure, tissue death, and blood clot formation.
Skin stains
The skin tone of smokers can be uneven and off, tending toward an orange or grey tone. Lack of oxygen to skin cells causes this most of the time, along with the negative effects of numerous other chemicals in tobacco. Cigarette smoke is laden with over 7000 chemicals, including 250 that are poisonous and 70 that cause cancer.
Sagging skin
Smoking can affect the skin on the body as well. Damage to elastin fibers can cause sagging and drooping. Vulnerable areas include the breasts and upper arms. Sagging of the skin and deeper wrinkles can also be caused by smoking.
The medical information provided in this article is provided as an information resource only. This information does not create any patient-physician relationship and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.
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