Smoking affects skin all over body

New study, published in Archives of Dermatology, suggests that smoking affects the skin all over the body - even the skin protected from the sun by clothes.

 

The researchers tested 82 smokers and non-smokers by taking pictures of the inner right arms. Next, blinded dermatologists judged the degree of wrinkling of the skin. The researchers found that the degree of wrinkling of the skin was significantly correlated with the total numbers of cigarettes per day and the total years the person has smoked.

 

Many smokers will develop the so-called 'Smoker's face', which is characterised by early aging of the skin with deep wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. The cause is believed to be a lack of oxygen to the skin as smoking reduces the circulation of the blood.

 

The new study shows that the early aging of the skin is not limited to face and hands.