Smoking has always been a suspected factor behind accelerated facial and skin aging, and was frequently spoken of as such. However, there wasn’t a conclusive study on the subject until recently. Researchers scouted for identical twins at a yearly “twin themed” festival in Twinsburg, Ohio to take part in a study that looked at the theory that smoking accelerates the aging process of the skin.
Researchers gathered a total of 79 pairs of twins with various smoking histories. They took identical photos of the pairs and the results are nothing short of stunning. They are proof-positive that smoking greatly accelerates the aging process and has profound effects specifically on the way the face ages.
The photos showed the the smoking twin had more pronounced wrinkles, more facial sagging, a lack of healthy “glow” to their skin, larger bags and circles under their eyes, and generally more signs of skin degeneration. The nonsmokers of the twin pairs consistently looked years younger than their smoking counterparts, lending even more credence to the long held smoking/aging acceleration theory.
Smoking robs the skin of moisture
A study done back in 1992 concluded that smokers experience a decrease in natural skin moisture. They were tested for liposomes, which are natural fats that keep skin moisture in. They tested dramatically lower than the nonsmokers in the study for moisture retention.
Retaining moisture becomes more and more important as we age, since it helps prevent new wrinkles from forming. It also keeps the skin toned and firm, which helps the face stay lifted instead of gravity-related sagging and slackening.
Smoking decreases circulation, which is vital to skin health
Circulation is noticeably reduced in those who habitually smoke. This is because it impedes the body’s ability to adequately circulate blood and nutrients throughout the body and to the skin, starving the skin of necessary nutrition to keep it smooth, supple and bright.
Why does smoking impeded circulation? Nicotine causes a chain reaction that releases stored fat into the blood stream, where it can stick to the walls of the blood vessels which have already been damaged by the toxic carbon monoxide released by the byproducts of cigarette smoke. This slows down circulation, which is necessary not only for skin health but also of course for brain, heart and circulatory health.
Smoking reduces oxygen in the blood
Speaking of carbon monoxide, this toxic compound also reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood. This has been blamed for the often perceived look of a grayish pallor that smokers skin tends to exhibit. The lack of oxygenated blood, combined with poor circulation is a recipe for an unhealthy skin color. This also means that any trauma to the skin will not heal as quickly.
The skin needs constant circulation to “feed” it the nutrients it needs to heal and regenerate. When it is deprived of oxygen and of the nutrients and life-giving presence of blood, it cannot recover as quickly from the natural ravages of aging.
In addition to the detrimental effects smoking has on the skin, it also makes you look older in other ways. It discolors the teeth, and it may even discolor the whites of the eyes, which gives a more aged appearance overall.
Danna Norek founded AuraSensory.com, which offers a line of natural body, skin and hair care products including a Hyaluronic Acid Serum which helps skin stay plump and retain moisture all day long, a Nourish & Hydrate MSM and Vitamin C Face cream and more.
Sources for this article include:
http://science.naturalnews.com http://journals.lww.com http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksJBlood.html
