The Effects of Smoking on Skin & Teeth
It's really no secret that smoking is bad for your lungs, but did you know it can wreak havoc on just about every other part of your body? Your skin and teeth can suffer greatly from the effects of smoking. Many people start smoking to seem cool and glamorous, but end up looking just the opposite.
Skin and Teeth Discoloration
A smoker's skin generally becomes discolored and very lackluster. This is because the liver (which removes toxins from the body) is working overtime and has trouble keeping up. The toxins get trapped in the body and give skin a yellow or grayish hue. Also, the nicotine itself stains from the outside, leaving fingers and teeth yellow in color. Smoke can also cause bad breath.
Dental Problems
Smoking not only causes yellowing teeth and bad breath, but can also do much more to the mouth. It can lead to the development of leukoplakia, irritation of the mouth's mucous membranes, which causes white patches to form. Smoking also causes a buildup of plaque and tartar, which can lead to gum disease and gingivitis. If dental work is done, smoking can inhibit the healing process afterward. And smoking can also lead to oral cancer.
Wrinkles and Sagging
Collagen, which keeps skin firm and taut, is preserved with vitamin C. Vitamin A also helps protect the skin from damage. Smoking depletes the body's supply of both vitamin C and vitamin A, so in turn depletes the collagen. This causes premature wrinkles and sagging skin. Plus, many wrinkles from around the eyes and mouth form from the action of smoking, as inhaling the smoke and squinting from the smoke getting into the eyes causes crow's feet. This premature wrinkling can make the smoker seem much older than she really is.
Skin Cancer
Most people think of lung cancer as being associated with smoking, but skin cancer is also an issue. Smoking increases the chances of developing certain types of skin cancers by bringing carcinogens into the body. This alters the DNA and also lowers the skin's ability to fight off other carcinogens, such as sun exposure.
Unhealthy Skin
Smoking can inhibit the skin's ability to repair itself because of the loss of nutrients and also the slowing of blood flow to injuries. If a smoker is injured or requires surgery, she will heal much slower than a non-smoker. Smoking also increases the chance that a wound will cause a scar.
Smokers have a very high chance of developing psoriasis, a painful and unsightly chronic skin condition. Psoriasis causes red, scaly patches to form on the skin, called psoriatic plaques. In some cases, the joints can become inflamed and cause psoriatic arthritis.
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