Unhealthy habits, such as smoking, can cause premature aging. Smokers are more likely to show signs of premature aging, such as wrinkles, dry skin, and fine lines. How does smoking cause premature aging? Check out the following review.

The link between smoking and early aging

Cigarettes contain nicotine, a harmful chemical that causes addiction and makes quitting smoking difficult. Cigarette smoke also contains thousands of toxic substances that affect cells, including skin cells.

Nowadays, there are many underage smokers. One of the side effects seen in young smokers, in addition to the increased risk of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases, is the appearance of premature aging signs such as wrinkles and dry skin, which make the face appear older.

Causes wrinkles

The skin is the largest organ in our bodies. It contains collagen, a natural protein found in the skin, bones, muscles, and tendons that has a variety of health benefits. A 2021 study found that smoking can damage the skin's collagen and elastin fibers.

When collagen and elastin levels drop, the skin sags, wrinkles appear, and loses its elasticity. This is what makes the skin appear wrinkled and older. Smokers in their forties frequently have the same number of facial wrinkles as nonsmokers in their sixties. Smoking in your 20s or 30s can cause skin damage that is invisible to the naked eye but still shows signs of aging.

Read more The Impact Of Quitting Smoking On Skin Health Conditions

Dull skin tone

Smokers' skin tones are also duller than those of nonsmokers. Smoking reduces the amount of blood flowing to the skin by constricting blood vessels near the skin's surface, reducing the amount of oxygen and essential nutrients transported to the skin via the blood.

Smoking also stimulates the formation of melanocytes in the skin, resulting in the appearance of age and dark spots. Smokers' skin tones are also generally duller, appearing bluish or grey. This is due to limited blood flow to the skin, which causes uneven skin pigmentation.

Sagging skin

The chemicals in cigarette smoke can cause the skin to lose water and experience a decrease in collagen and elastin levels. This deficiency reduces the skin's elasticity, causing it to droop and sag. A study found that smokers have stiffer skin than nonsmokers.

Read more: Negative Effect Of Smoking On Oral Health

Fine lines around the lips

Smoking causes distinctive wrinkles around the lips. Smokers use specific muscles around the lips, resulting in dynamic wrinkles that nonsmokers do not have. Furthermore, the chemicals in cigarettes and cigarette smoke reduce skin elasticity in the facial skin, resulting in fine lines around smokers' lips.

Smoking not only harms your respiratory health, but it also causes premature aging. The average age of smokers is now decreasing. If you smoke, you should think about quitting and adopting a healthier lifestyle. If you need help quitting smoking, consult a doctor or a psychologist.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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