Did you know, smoking is one of the biggest factors in how your skin ages.
Smoking cigarettes can accelerate the formation of lines and wrinkles so dramatically that by the age of 40, a person could easily look 10 years older.
In fact a study in the early 70s showed that smokers had as many lines and wrinkles of non-smokers who were 20 years older.
Studies have also shown that the more you smoke, the greater the impact on your skin.
How Smoking Affects Your Skin
- Smoking causes capillaries and tiny vessels to become narrower, which reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach the skin.
- Smokers’ skin tends to lack radiance and healthy colour, due to decreased production of red blood cells. This can give it a grey/yellow tinge
- Smoking releases free radicals, which reduce collagen formation and elasticity in the skin, leading to loss of firmness/tightness. Wrinkles and creases appear much earlier due to the lack of tone in the skin. Eye bags can develop earlier
- Smoking causes the skin to develop a rougher texture, as it tends to be less hydrated and nourished
- Smokers are more prone to ageing spider veins and thread veins
Stop Smoking for Better Skin
Patients who are able to stop smoking can hope to see an improvement in the condition of their skin. However, it won’t be instant and the damage is not likely to be reversed.
There are cosmetic and anti-ageing treatments that can help to improve the appearance of the skin, returning a healthier pallor and tackling lines and saggy skin. Options include:
- Cosmetic injections to smooth out lines and wrinkles
- Dermal fillers to tackle deeper creases
- Non-surgical facelift to restore sagging skin tissues
- IPL/laser to stimulate skin renewal
- Chemical peels/microdermabrasion to strip away the outer skin cells to reveal new skin
- Cosmeceutical skincare such as ZO Skin Health has active ingredients to stimulate the skin
Smoking And Your Health
The cosmetic benefits of not smoking are one thing, but the bigger picture of course is that smoking is known to be very harmful to general health as a whole. The potential effects are now quite well-known. Smoking is linked to 15 types of cancer, coronary heart disease, lung disease, stroke. In pregnancy, risks include miscarriage, stillbirth and problems for baby.
There are very many really good reasons for giving up smoking – it is the single most beneficial health and lifestyle change a person can make.
There is good advice for quitting smoking at:
- https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/
- https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stop-smoking-treatments/
As a former GP, Dr John Tanqueray is able to fully and comprehensively understand and advise on the impact of smoking – in particular how it has affected your skin.
Mulberry House Clinic
Established 2003
Mulberry House Clinic has an excellent reputation in the Northampton area as an independent, doctor-led practice with over 17 years experience. Cosmetic skin treatments are carried out by Dr John Tanqueray, who works closely with leading manufacturers to remain at the forefront of the medical aesthetics.
For further information or to arrange a confidential consultation, please complete our contact form, call 01604 702630 or email: info@mulberryhouseclinic.co.uk.
