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Posted on: April 22, 2015

Most Americans are aware that smoking is not good for them, but most people also assume that the negative affects only pertain to their insides. Smoking is indeed terrible for the mouth, throat and other organs of the body. But in fact, smoking has a number of negative effects on the skin as well.

1. Smoking destroys collagen

Collagen is a much needed structural protein in the skin that helps it look firm, supple and wrinkle-free. To produce collagen, your skin needs adequate amounts of vitamin C. Unfortunately, each cigarette you smoke saps your skin of this essential vitamin. Cigarettes have tons of collagen destroying enzymes, and this adds to the amount of wrinkles and fine lines you have.

2. The smoke actually burns your skin

In addition to sapping your skin of essential components, it actually burns your skin. After all, when you smoke, you have a burning stick only centimeters from your skin. The heat that comes off of your cigarettes affects the upper lip and skin directly below your nose the most, and it gives you smoker’s lines there. If you smoke several cigarettes a day, this burning adds up.

3. You lose essential blood supply to the skin

When you smoke consistently, the smoke and chemicals narrow the blood vessels. This is called vasoconstriction. As this happens, the blood supply to the skin naturally gets lower, and your skin’s elasticity changes. This lack of blood supply also causes collagen levels to drop.

4. Lack of vitamin A

Lastly, you lose vitamin A when you smoke. If you’re in your 30s or over, you are probably already using skin care products that have vitamin A in them. This vitamin is essential for restoring youth and beauty to the skin, but when you smoke, the moisture and the vitamin A levels become reduced.

If you are currently a smoker, consider the negatives of tobacco use and your skin care and overall health. Talk to a doctor about how to make the move to quit.

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