Does Smoking Really Cause Wrinkles?                   
(Email question from Renee)

 

This is one of the many questions that I am often asked while visiting friends, during office visits, and receive by email.  We all know the disadvantages of smoking for our health…but does it really have an affect on our beauty as well? 

Yes in the form of premature aging and wrinkles. Wrinkles are a natural process of that happens with age as skin gets thinner, dryer, and has less elasticity.  Genetics, environment, and stress are some common causes of aging.  You can not change some of these factors, but you are take steps to minimize any premature aging. 

        Smoking and sun exposure is thought to be the two main avoidable sources of skin wrinkling.  Smoking accelerates the natural aging process by narrowing your blood vessels .  This limits the amount of blood flow to your skin.  Blood is responsible for bringing oxygen, vitamin A, and other important nutrients to your skin. Smoking also damages the fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity.  These fibers are called collagen and elastin and once they are damaged your skin begins to sag and wrinkle.  The act of smoking also produced heat and smoke as the cigarette burns. Years of repeated reactions to this heat and smoke cause the smoker to squint, tighten the lips, and make other facial expression which also causes wrinkles. 

The great news is that you can turn the clock back on premature aging.  You can quit smoking today and prevent further damage to your skin.

 Visit www.beautix.com to see about our latest anti-aging skin care product, Time interrupted by Massiha MD.  If you have any questions that you would like answered, email me at info@beautix.com.

 

Sources:  Time Interrupted Website