We all know that smoking is bad for the heart and lungs, but many people do not understand the harmful effects it can have on the skin. Tobacco leads to free radical and oxidant formation throughout the body. In the skin, this manifests itself as fine lines, wrinkles, laxity, and discoloration; in other words, premature aging. Similar to smoking, sun damage causes premature aging of the skin. We protect our skin from the sun using sunscreen and antioxidants. At the same time we must avoid behaviors such as smoking that lead to premature aging of the skin. Otherwise our efforts will be of no use. Smoking cessation will have a significant and direct impact on the look of your skin, not to mention the other health benefits it provides.
