How does smoking cause premature aging of the skin?

If you pay attention to people who used to smoke at a young age, usually they will quickly experience premature aging, which can be seen from their dry and wrinkled skin. Skin damage due to the long-term effects of smoking usually results in a "smoker's face", which can cause facial skin to appear grayish and the appearance of fine lines around the eyes and mouth.

What is the link between smoking and premature aging? And why can smoking cause aging? Read on to find out the answer.

Research on smoking and premature aging

There are so many harmful effects caused by smoking that it is hard to avoid. Most people probably only know that smoking only causes complications of heart attacks, lung cancer, hypertension, and fertility problems. But it turns out, based on research, smoking causes premature aging!

This is based on the study, in which researchers tested twin pairs who smoked and did not. The result, those who are accustomed to smoking, as many as 57 percent of their faces appear wrinkled. So that it makes people look older because they have a face that is much dull and not fresh.

Various indicators of aging can be seen on the sagging upper eyelid, the lower eyelid forming a pouch, clearer facial wrinkles, the appearance of lines between the nose and mouth, wrinkles on the upper and lower lips, and experiencing a drooping chin.

How does smoking cause skin aging?

According to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medicine, smoking causes skin aging that begins with the appearance of wrinkles because the nicotine in cigarettes is a vasoconstrictor, a substance that can reduce blood flow to organs, such as the skin. This decrease in blood flow can deprive the skin of oxygen and essential nutrients, including vitamin A, which is needed for skin cell regeneration.

Excessive wrinkles will develop around the mouth and in the creases between the nose and mouth. This causes the basic tissue of the skin to lose its strength so that the face will be more saggy and wrinkled deeper. If you are a woman and smoke, then these wrinkled effects will be annoying which will affect your appearance later on.

In addition, the effects of smoking can not only be seen from the skin of smokers, but the effect will be worse on your teeth. This is because smoking is proven to be the cause of the high risk of periodontal disease or what is commonly known as tooth supporting tissue and tooth loss.

How do you deal with premature aging due to smoking?

The easiest and proven way to prevent premature aging or further damage due to smoking is to immediately stop smoking, especially if you are a woman. You don't want the effects of aging on your skin to interfere with your appearance, do you? Even though it's not easy, quitting smoking actually benefits not only your skin, but also your overall health.

Another thing you can do is adopt a healthy lifestyle by improving your eating habits. Eat healthy foods that are rich in sources of vitamins A and C. You can meet your intake of vitamins A and C from carrots, broccoli, green vegetables and oranges. Don't forget to keep your body hydrated by drinking enough water and avoiding alcoholic or caffeinated drinks.

Doing skin care in a good and correct way, such as cleaning the face after a day of activities, is also a way to prevent premature aging due to smoking. Clean your face using a face wash, toner, and moisturizer that suits your skin type.