Ever notice how smokers tend to develop wrinkles and older looking skin before non-smokers? Did you ever wonder why or even make the link between the cigarette and the wrinkles? Did you ever wonder if that smoke was affecting you and your skin? Well the connection between second hand smoke and health issues like cancer has already been made, but Clinique Laboratories reported that there was also a definite connection between the smoke from someone else’s cigarette and the dry, course, wrinkled skin sometimes called smoker’s skin. (Hall, 2007).
According to Clinique smoke triggers oxidation allowing oxygen based free-radicals (agents known to age the skin) to attack the skin cells. This results in the damaging of the skin cells in a way that inhibits cells from reparing DNA and connective fibres which in turn leads to wrinkles, lines, and skin discoloration. (Hall, 2007). The point? Every time you smoke or sit next to a smoker you are not only breathing in toxins that can cause cancer and other health complications. You’re also damaging you skin and putting yourself at increased risk premature skin ageing. Too bad ageing isn’t the only skin condition associated with smoking either. Poor wound recovery, psoriasis, and skin cancer can also result from both smoking and inhaling someone else’s cigarette smoke. (iVillage, 2007).
Additionally, CNN reported on March 19, 2007 that a study published in the Archives of Dermatology showed that smoking affected the skin on the entire body, that the damage caused by cigarette smoke was not limited to the face as was former surmised. So, if you live with a smoker, or are around people that smoke often you are serving a huge injustice to your skin. Even skin wholly and completely protected from the sun was proven to be affected by the influence of cigarette smoke.
Fortunately, there are measures you can take to help prevent damage and treat damaged skin. Obviously, the best way to prevent smoker’s skin is to not smoke and not be around those who do, but since that isn’t always an option there are other methods you can use to cleanse your skin of all the free radicals attacking it through cigarette smoke exposure.
First, never sleep on that dingy night club skin. Whether your states clubs and are bars are smoke free or not, chances are a night on the town means you’ve been exposed to cigarette smoke. If you haven’t, you’ve got an amazing city hold on to it. For the rest of us, go home and wash your face. Use a cleanser that removes dirt, oils, and make up (this goes for men as well). Washing your face as soon as possible after getting home will prevent further damage. Crashing out and leaving that smoke soaked face until tomorrow just increases the damage. Those free radicals causing damage don’t just stop because you do, while you sleep your skin won’t be busy rejuvenating, it will be getting actively attacked and damaged by that same smoke you experienced all night. (Hall, 2007). Follow up your cleansing with a nice moisturizer and some vitamin C gel if you can find it. If not, there are a great deal of creams and lotions with anti-oxidants and vitamin C and A in them which will greatly help in the battle against pre-mature skin aging. Try to apply these creams nightly allowing them to soak in and soothe the skin while you sleep. They also help to create a barrier against any other external aging agents.
If all these treatments just aren’t enough, or your skin has been exposed to a great deal of smoke and you want to treat the discoloration and aging effects, try something a little tougher. Skin peels and dermabrasion work well in treating wrinkles and easing the appearance of deep lines. Even home exfoliation creams can help with discoloration and dry course smoker’s skin. However, it would be best to treat yourself to a nice enzyme exfoliation at a beauty shop to really get great results at least once a month.
The most important thing is to limit your exposure to smoke and treat your skin to the nutrients, vitamins, and moisture it needs to maintain a healthy appearance. Good cleansing creams, exfoliation, and proper vitamins will greatly reduce the appearance of wrinkles and slow the pre-mature aging process. The only sure way is to avoid smoke exposure and smoking, so try and find a smoke free bar and tell that roommate to start smoking outside!
References:
Hall, J. (2007). Give Skin A Break From Smoke. Retrieved March 21, 2007, from Red Orbit Website: http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/377593/give_skin_a_break_from_smoke/index.html?source=r_health
iVillage. (2007). Smoke Exposure and Skin. Retrieved March 21, 2007, from iVillage Total Health Website: http://skin.health.ivillage.com/skinbasics/smokeexposureskin.cfm
Reuters. (2007). Study: Smoking Ages Skin, Not Just Face. Retrieved March 21, 2007. from CNN Website: http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/03/19/smoking.skin.reut/index.html
