Everyone knows smoking is bad for your health. One of the worst effects of smoking is lung cancer, but do you know it affects other parts of your body as well, such as your skin?
Cigarette smoke contains toxins that will damage your skin. The more you smoke, the more damage your skin will lose its elasticity and firmness. Not only does it affect your appearance, but smoking may also cause skin disorders as well.
Psoriasis
Smoking and psoriasis are connected to each other much more than you think. Smokers are more susceptible to the autoimmune disease, a skin disorder that occurs when a weakened immune system develops skin cells rapidly. Unfortunately, there are no known cure to psoriasis.
Palmoplantar pustulosis is a form of psoriasis that smokers are more prone to get. The symptoms are tiny blisters with yellow pus on the skin.
Staining of the skin
Long-time smokers may experience uneven skin tones due to the exposure to nicotine and other toxins in cigarettes. Their skin tends to be more orange or grey, and their fingers may turn yellow after holding cigarettes for years.
No amount of washing or cleaning can remove the stains from your skin. The only way is to stop smoking!
Skin cancer
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer. If you’re a smoker, the chances of you contracting this cancer are 52 percent higher than a non-smoker.
It is believed that the weakened immune system from the cigarette smoke increases the risk of SCC. Red bumps on the lips are one of the symptoms of SCC.
Premature skin aging
Your skin ages faster than it’s supposed to when you’re a smoker. Wrinkles may appear way earlier than expected. For example, smokers may develop “smoker lines,” which are vertical wrinkles around the mouth and “crow’s feet” which are wrinkles around the eyes.
Sagging skin may also happen earlier due to the loss of elasticity of the skin caused by smoking. The breast areas and upper arms are body parts that experience the most sagging.
Vasculitis
Buerger’s disease is a form vasculitis associated with smoking. It happens when your blood vessels in your hands and feet become inflamed. The constricted blood vessels cause pain and tissue damage.
In extreme cases, this disease leads to gangrene, and you may lose an appendage.
Conclusion
Smoking brings plenty of ill effects to the skin of a smoker. However, your skin will recover and improve if you stop smoking. The risks your health faces when you smoke is just not worth it.
Read more about how smoking affects the lives of psoriasis patients by visiting http://mypsoriasis.my/smoking-and-psoriasis.