How Smoking Damages Your Skin

The Mayo Clinic reports that smoking can greatly accelerate the normal aging process of your skin, leading to wrinkles. According to their research, skin changes from smoking can be seen in young adults who have been smoking for as few as 10 years.

Smoking causes constriction (narrowing) of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of the skin, which leads to decreased blood flow.

Less blood flow means the skin receives less oxygen and other nutrients (like vitamin A) which are important to skin health. Without the proper blood flow and nutrients, the skin loses strength and elasticity.

The repetitive facial expressions associated with smoking: pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — may contribute to wrinkles.

It may also be that repeated exposure to the heat from lit cigarettes may damage your facial skin over time.

If you are planning to stop smoking, the sooner the better. Your skin will thank you.