Does Smoking Make the Skin Look Older?

It's no surprise that smoking is bad for your health. Anyone who has ever lit up has heard the warnings about everything from lung cancer to emphysema. However, if that isn't enough to make you quit, maybe answering the question, "Does smoking make the skin look older?", will. Often, when health isn't enough, your vanity can actually do you good in this situation.

We Want to Stay Forever Young

Everyone is flattered by being thought younger than they are. After all, isn't finding the fountain of youth an ongoing fantasy? Ah, to stay forever young! Sadly, if you're a smoker, you can probably kiss the fountain of youth goodbye. Does smoking make the skin look older? Absolutely! Researchers report that the average smoker looks up to ten years older than their non-smoking peers. When you're in your twenties, this may not be enough to convince you. However, looking 40 when you're only 30 isn't exactly appealing. Quitting in your twenties can stop this aging process quickly. However, the more years you smoke, the worse it is for your skin. You should ask yourself, "Does smoking make the skin look older?", sooner rather than later.

The Effects on Your Skin

Smoking has several negative effects on your skin. While we have already answered the question, "Does smoking make the skin look older?” it's important to have a better understanding of why this happens. While nicotine is the culprit in the addictive properties of cigarettes, most of the health problems are the result of the smoke itself. The main skin issue that results from smoking cigarettes is wrinkling. When doctors study the effect of smoke on skin, they see excessive wrinkling starting in patients as young as their early twenties! This increases the older the person is and the longer they have been lighting up. Also, cigarette smoke leads to a leathery appearance and darker color in your skin. When you combine this with the scratchy voice that is common with those who indulge in cigarettes, a less than attractive picture begins to emerge.

You Can Fix This!

Obviously, you can't eliminate the effects of smoking overnight. However, the sooner you kick the habit, the more time your body has to repair the damage. Our bodies are amazing machines and they can fix these things if we give them time and chance. Does smoking make the skin look older? Absolutely! However, you have to quit smoking in order to fix this. Quitting cold turkey is rarely effective, with over 90% of people relapsing later. It's important to break the smoking addiction slowly. Using tools that allow you to control your intake of nicotine can help wean you off of cigarettes slowly.