Healthy Skin Tips: 7 Reasons To Quit Smoking For A Better Skin Health 

Smoking is cancerous, giving rise to many health concerns related to not just the body but also the skin. Here's why you should quit for better skin health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths and causes 90 per cent of all lung cancer deaths. Women who smoke are more likely to die from lung cancer than breast cancer each year. Smoking has many fatal health side effects. It can lead to respiratory disease, heart diseases, stroke and cancer. It damages the blood vessels and shrinks them. This causes a blockage of blood and oxygen flow inside the body. Not only this, it also affects bone and skin health.

Smoking can cause many skin related diseases including psoriasis and skin cancer. A cigarette contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive ingredient found in tobacco. When you smoke, your body absorbs this ingredient and causes cell death, narrows blood vessels and decreases the blood oxygen flow in the skin.

7 Effects Of Smoking On The Skin

Here are 7 reasons why you should consider quitting smoking to avoid the following skin issues

Premature Skin Aging

According to a study in the Journal of Dermatological Science, smoking causes premature ageing. It makes the skin look sluggish and old. It is also a contributing factor to dark circles and wrinkles on the facial skin. Smoking leaves the skin dry and reduces the collagen count along with skin elasticity. This makes the skin look dull and tired, causing premature aging.

Pigmentation

Smoking reduces blood circulation and deters the flow of oxygen across the body. This reduced flow of oxygen along with other important nutrients to the skin may cause pigmentation. This can also lead to the formation of dark spots on the skin. Smoking also leads to discoloration of the skin and uneven skin tone, making your appearance dull.

Slow Wound Healing

Your skin has the fantastic ability to heal itself by the process called skin regeneration but there's a problem if you smoke. Smoking deprives the skin of the essential nutrients and oxygen flow. This affects the skin's response to wounds and infections. It causes delayed wound healing and makes previous wounds prone to recurrence.

Skin Cancer

According to studies, people who smoke have a higher risk of developing skin cancer. A British weekly scientific journal says tobacco smoke contains carcinogenic substances which cause skin damage and mutations. This is said to cause development of cancerous tumors.

Psoriasis

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, if you smoke and you have a family history of psoriasis, you are more likely to develop this skin problem yourself. Smoking can also make your previous psoriasis worse and reduces the effects of treatment of psoriasis. Quitting smoking can reduce the symptoms and risk of developing psoriasis.

Skin Infections

The toxic substances that the skin absorbs while you smoke directly affect its immune system making your skin more prone to skin infections. It reduces the skin's anti-inflammatory capabilities and the response of the immune system against infections.

Eczema

Smoking can increase your risk of developing eczema, a skin condition that causes skin rashes and itchy skin. Tobacco smoke contains benzopyrene, a substance that triggers inflammation. This can irritate the skin and cause red and itchy skin, resulting in eczema.

The hazardous effect of smoking not only affects your skin health but also your mental, physical and oral health. Your overall well being is put at stake when you smoke. Adopting a healthy lifestyle and quitting smoking reduces your risks of any potential skin health issues. So, drop the cigarette and pick up the light.