One of the effects of smoking on the skin is premature aging. Smoking causes the blood vessels in your skin to narrow. This decreases the blood flow to your skin and makes it difficult for your body to deliver the oxygen and vital nutrients that your skin needs to stay healthy. Under these deprived conditions, collagen and elastin become damaged – these fibers give your skin its strength and elasticity. Over time, the cumulative effects of inhaling cigarette smoke can produce discoloration, sagging and wrinkling of the skin. The damage is not just limited to your face, smoking can also accelerate the aging process on the skin in other areas of your body. Talk to your doctor if you need help to quit smoking.
