Lung disease, cancer, and heart problems are all tied to smoking.
But did you know that smoking can also take a serious toll on your face and skin?
It can lead to premature wrinkles and aging, which can affect your appearance and self-esteem.
There are other more serious risks to your skin as well.
Cigarettes contain toxins that can cause premature aging and other skin conditions, including skin cancer.
If you already have a skin condition, smoking can worsen its symptoms.
In many cases, your skin may begin to heal itself once you quit.
When collagen is impaired, skin tends to sag.
Smoking can also cause sagging skin, particularly under the eyes and around the jawline.
For those who smoke, wrinkling usually starts much earlier than it does for people who don’t smoke.
You may also develop vertical wrinkles around the mouth that come from pursing your lips around a cigarette.
Research shows that people with tar-stained fingers from smoking are more likely to havesmoking-related illnesses.
Even minor cuts and scrapes might take longer to heal properly when you smoke cigarettes.
If you smoke, you might be more likely to develop scarring from these minor injuries as well.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that smoking greatly increases the risk of complications following surgery.
They attribute such improvements to improvements in blood flow to essential organs throughout the body.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that produces itchy and scaly patches.
In dark skin tones, psoriasis may appear violet or dark brown with gray scales.
In light skin tones, it may appear red or pink with silvery scales.
Smoking is a risk factor for developing psoriasis.
One study found that the more often people smoked, the higher their risk was for developing psoriasis.
The link between psoriasis and smoking may be thenicotinein cigarettes.
Like psoriasis, it is a recurrent inflammatory disorder.
One study found that cigarette smoking is the biggest environmental risk factor for developing acne inversa.
Quitting smoking may help reduce the severity of the condition and make treatments more effective.
Researchers find thatsmokingputs you at a much higher risk for a jot down of vasculitis called Buerger’s disease.
Palmar telangiectasia specifically occurs on the palms of the hand, and it has been associated with smoking.
Since the nicotine in tobacco constricts blood vessels, smoking can lead to this condition.
Eczema forms as dry, itchy patches of skin.
It appears red in light skin tones and brown in dark skin tones.
People exposed tosecondhand smokealso face a greater risk of developing hand eczema.
Skin Cancer
Cigarette smoke containscarcinogens, which are cancer-causing substances.
The growths may be brown in dark skin tones or red in light skin tones.
Let your doctor know if you notice these or any other irregular textures on your skin.
By quitting, you’ll reduce the inflammation of blood vessels that leads to many smoking-related skin conditions.
Your circulation and heart rate will improve, as will the functioning of your heart and lungs.
Overall, your body will start to heal itself.
Your ability to heal from wounds will improve, too.
How Soon Will You See Improvements?
Your doctor can refer you to a mental health professional who can help you cope.
If you’re having trouble, remember there are many resources that can help.
Try reaching out to a support group near you or download aquit smoking appon your phone.
Every day that you go without smoking is another day your skin has a chance to repair itself.
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