How does smoking affect the skin?
According to verywell Mind, people who smoke and inhale secondhand smoke will have many skin problems.
Early aging and wrinkles: Toxins in smoke destroy collagen and elastin two ingredients that help tone and elasticate skin. This leads to sagging skin, deep wrinkles around the eyes, mouth and jaw. Smokers often develop wrinkles earlier than non-smokers.
Reduced blood circulation: Nicotine constricts blood vessels, causing the skin to lack oxygen and nutrients, making the skin dull and lifeless.
Increase free radicals and reduce vitamin A: Causes skin cell damage, promotes aging.
Changed skin pigmentation: Smoking increases melanin, causing brown spots on the face. Nicotine and pharmaceutical plastic also make the skin yellow, especially on the druggrowth.
serious consequences: skin diseases caused by smoking
Long-term wound healing: Smoking reduces blood circulation, making wounds and surgeries heal longer and more likely to leave scars. WHO recommends quitting smoking at least 4 weeks before surgery to reduce complications.
psoriasis: Nicotine affects the immune system and inflammation, increasing the risk of psoriasis and diseases such as palmoplantar pustulosis ( foot pain).
Acne inversa: Smoking is the biggest environmental factor causing this disease, often appearing in the scratched skin area such as the armpits, groin, and under the chest.
vasculitis: Smoking increases the risk of Buerger's disease - a form of inflammation that causes necrosis of the fingers/tingles, pain and pur purple.
palms capillary dilation (palmar telangiectasia): Half of smokers show signs of dilation of blood vessels in their hands, causing permanent purine marks.
Eczema: Smoking and secondhand smoke increase the risk of eczema, especially in children and people with allergies.
Skin cancer: Cigarette smoke contains carcinogens, which increase the risk of squamous cell carcinoma - which appears as rough patches, ulcers or small tumors on the skin.
How to fix and improve your skin
Quit smoking: This is the most important step. When you stop smoking, blood circulation improves, the skin receives enough oxygen and nutrients, thereby restoring elasticity and pigmentation.
Rehabilitation time: Research shows that after only 4 weeks of withdrawal, the skin begins to be brighter, with less redness and brown spots. After 412 weeks, skin pigmentation improves significantly.
Reduce inflammation and increase healing: Antibiotics help reduce vascular inflammation, improve heart and lung function and speed up the skin's recovery.
Support treatment of dermatological diseases: People with psoriasis, eczema or acne inversa will respond to treatment better after quitting.
