Many people don’t think of this “invisible killer” that damages the skin

When it comes to skin, there should be no one who doesn't pay attention to it. After all, people with good skin have a different spirit.

But when it comes to protecting the skin, people often think of diet and sunlight. After all, if you don't pay attention to your diet, your face will be allergic to acne, and if you don't do a good job of sun protection, your skin will darken or even age. But there is a "skin destroyer" that is much more powerful than these two, and that is - smog.

1. What is the difference in skin color between smokers and non-smokers?

In a study conducted in the United States, researchers selected 79 pairs of identical twins as research subjects. Each pair of these twins included a smoker and a non-smoker, or one had smoked for at least 5 years longer than the other.

The results showed that compared with the non-smoker, the smoking twin had lower scores for upper eyelid skin firmness, lower eyelid bagging, malar area bagging, nasolabial folds, upper lip wrinkles, vermilion wrinkles characteristic of the lower lip, and jawline. In addition, in the comparison of twins with a difference of more than 5 years of smoking, the individual with a longer smoking period also had significantly lower scores for lower eyelid bagging, malar bags, and vermilion wrinkles of the lower lip.

Shown below are comparison photos of a pair of twin brothers. The one on the right has a 14-year longer smoking history than the one on the left.

The picture above shows a pair of twin brothers. The one on the right has smoked 14 years longer than the one on the left.

From this we can see that long-term smoking habits affect the skin, making it dry and rough, with deep wrinkles on the face, sagging in the jaw area, and uneven skin color distribution. In addition, smokers' eyelids tend to appear more sagging, wrinkles on the skin are more prominent, the skin on the neck is also loose, and the capillary dilation phenomenon is more prominent. These facial features together make up the so-called "smoker's face."

2. How does tobacco smoke damage the skin?

So how does tobacco smoke affect our skin? First, we need to understand our skin.

Our skin is made up of multiple layers of cells. The epidermis is the outermost layer, which is responsible for forming the skin barrier; the dermis contains structural proteins such as collagen and elastic fibers, which give the skin elasticity and firmness; the subcutaneous tissue contains fat cells, which provide support and insulation for the skin.

The damage caused by smoke to the skin is often multifaceted.

① Accelerated aging

Nicotine and other harmful substances in tobacco can constrict blood vessels and reduce the amount of blood flowing to the skin. This effect weakens the skin's ability to obtain oxygen and nutrients, causing the skin to be hypoxic and malnourished, which in turn accelerates the aging process. As a result, long-term smokers often have dull facial complexions, lack luster, and premature appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Secondly, the oxidative stress caused by smoking activates matrix metalloproteinases, an enzyme that accelerates the breakdown of collagen. Smoke also causes the broken-down collagen fragments to saccharify, forming a difficult-to-remove mixture that further hinders the synthesis of new collagen. This double whammy leads to a rapid loss of collagen in the dermis, a gradual loss of elasticity, and volume loss and signs of aging.

In addition, studies have found that smoking can cause the newly generated elastic fibers in the skin to become abnormal and unable to form a normal elastic fiber network. The degeneration of elastic fibers leads to a decrease in skin elasticity, loosening and sagging, further aggravating the aging process of the skin. At the same time, free radicals in tobacco smoke can also affect blood vessel function, slowing down subcutaneous blood microcirculation, leading to insufficient cell nutrition supply, reduced skin renewal function, poor skin tightness, and reduced water retention, thus accelerating skin aging.

② Skin problems

-Acne: Nicotine in cigarettes shrinks the ducts of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands, preventing the smooth discharge of oil, which in turn aggravates the symptoms of acne. People who smoke frequently are more likely to have severe acne problems, and the treatment effect is poor.

- Melasma: Chemicals in tobacco can interfere with the metabolism of melanin and promote tyrosinase activity, thus causing pigmentation. Smoking is one of the important factors that induce or aggravate melasma, and can expand the scope of existing spots or deepen their color.

③Causes a variety of skin diseases

-Eczema and atopic dermatitis: Long-term smoking can cause inflammation of the skin, making it more likely to develop skin diseases such as eczema or atopic dermatitis. Eczema is an inflammatory skin disease with a tendency to exudate caused by a variety of internal and external factors, while atopic dermatitis is an allergic skin disease with a genetic tendency.

-Microvascular spasm: Harmful substances in tobacco, such as tar and nicotine, can irritate blood vessels, induce microvascular spasm, and affect blood circulation and nutrient supply to the skin.

- Exacerbation of skin diseases: Smoking can damage the skin's self-repair function, causing skin diseases to become more severe or even protracted. This is mainly because the nicotine in tobacco affects the blood circulation of the skin, causing absorption disorders of skin cells. At the same time, the acetone in tobacco can melt the oil in the skin, causing dry skin and allergies, which aggravates the condition.

What's more serious is that the harmful substances in tobacco can cause DNA damage and abnormal cell proliferation, thereby increasing the risk of skin cancer. Long-term smokers are also more likely to develop skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

In general, smoking has a very serious impact on the skin. In order to protect the skin and reduce the impact of smoking on the skin, you should first quit smoking immediately. At the same time, clean your skin regularly, maintain good living habits and eating habits, eat more foods rich in vitamins C and E, keep your skin well hydrated, and use skin care products regularly to repair and improve skin problems caused by smoking.

References: [1] Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2013;132:1085-1092

Author: Red Fish

Reviewer: Feng Jun, deputy chief physician of the Dermatology Department of Sinopharm Tongmei General Hospital