How smoking cigarettes affect your skin

By now, we all know the health risks of cigarette smoking. It can lead to cancer of the lungs, mouth, throat, bladder, cardiovascular diseases and for female smokers, they are at greater risk for cervical cancer. Although you may not see the immediate affects of smoking on the skin, the damage occurs with every cigarette.
In addition to sun exposure, smoking causes premature aging of the skin. It causes wrinkles on your face and can also be associated with wrinkling and damage to other parts of your body. The nicotine found in cigarettes causes the blood vessels to narrow on the outer layers of the skin. This impairs the blood flow to the skin. The insufficient flow of blood to the skin prevent oxygen and important nutrients, like vitamin A, from nourishing the skin. The sagging and the wrinkling occur because the many chemicals found in tobacco smoke damage the collagen and elastin in the skin. These are the two most important fibers in the skin that give it it's strength and elasticity.
The heat from the cigarette smoke and the facial expressions made when smoking add to the wrinkling of the skin, especially around the lips when inhaling and the eyes when squinting.

Although skin wrinkling and aging of the skin may not be completely reversible, the best way to prevent them from getting worse is to stop smoking. If you or someone you know has been thinking about quitting, you can visit Smokefree.gov. This website provides information and assistance that can help you through the process. Not only will you be healthier, you'll look better too. (from examiner.com)

When we die we will be so young and beautiful - not only that we will be so learned

i must admit since stopping smoking i find my skin is much healthier looking...no yellow stains on my hair ,teeth or fingers either