Effects of Smoking on Skin

Bad effects of smoking on your skin

Cigarette smoke contains more than 400 toxins and other harmful substance including nicotine and carbon monoxide. Due to these harmful substances smoking seriously affects internal organs. It is associated with many health related issues, most well known of which are lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. Some of the lesser known bad effect of smoking on health is equally damaging. For instance smoking reduces fertility in both males and females; in pregnant women it can damage the fetus, retard its growth, cause miscarriage and premature delivery.

Some of the bad effects of smoking on skin are given below:

Ageing and wrinkles:

Smoking contributes to premature ageing, wrinkles and affects the person’s appearance. Several studies have reported that cigarette smoking ages the skin of an individual more than exposure to sun light. The nicotine contents of cigarette are considered diuretic that lessen moisture content significantly in the dermis and leads to dry skin. Nicotine contents in the smoking do not allow the body to utilize vitamins, especially Vitamins A and C, leading to dry, wrinkled appearance of the skin. Smoking narrows blood vessels which supply nutrients and oxygen to the skin that results in damage to the skin’s collagen and elastin fibers and thinning of skin. Due to reduced supply of oxygen to the skin, it looks dull and lusterless and leads to development of premature lines and wrinkles. Thinned out skin slowly begins to sag. A smoker’s skin is up to 25% thinner than a non-smoker skin and that leads to premature wrinkles formation. A smoker as an average looks five years older than non-smoking person of his/her age.

Slow wound healing:

Nicotine also reduces Vitamin A content in the skin and affects the regeneration and healing power of the skin. Vitamin A is beneficial nutrients that can help to heal damaged connective tissues. Wounds and cuts of smokers take longer time to heal than a non smoker due to deficiency of Vitamin A and contraction of blood vessels. Constricted blood vessels transport less blood through body, and therefore reduce the supply of nutrients needed to regenerate the connective tissues. This is evident in patients who have undergone surgery. A smoker who undergoes face lift surgery more likely to experience unsatisfactory wound healing. Reduced supply of oxygen to the skin due to toxic components of smoking also affects the regeneration of damaged cells.


Have you quit smoking? Or are you thinking to quit smoking? Find some tips solution in “ The Quit Smoking Bible”


Changes to physical appearance:

Constant use of cigarette cause darkening of the lips and dry and patchy appearance of the lips. Nails of smoker become of darker shade and fingers take yellowish look due to nicotine. Chronic smokers also tend to have dark circles and puffiness of the eyes. In addition to wrinkles, smoking increases the risk of boniness and facial discoloration. Dryness in the skin reduces the flexibility and becomes unattractive than well moisturized skin. It may give red, flaky or scaly appearance.

Smoking and skin diseases:

Smoking increases the risk of skin cancer. A Dutch study found that cigarette and pipe smokers were twice as likely as non-smokers to develop skin cancer, when other risk factors (e.g. age and sun exposure) were taken into account. Studies have shown that smokers have a higher risk of formation of silvery, plaque-like scales on the arms and legs (particularly at the elbows and knees) a scaly skin condition also called psoriasis.

Smoking is associated with a greater risk of severity of certain viral infection, including genital warts. If you are suffering from genital wart and continue smoking, you have a greater chance of developing wart-virus associated cancers.

Vascular disease:

Smoking narrows blood vessels due to exposure to nicotine present in the cigarette may develop blood clots. Blood clotting in the arteries supplying the fingers and toes may go into spasm, causing temporary cessation of blood flow. Sometime it may cause autoimmune disorder resulting in widespread scarring and vascular disease.

Continue reading here: Importance of exfoliating skin

Was this article helpful?

0 0