Smoking causes premature aging

In the past, we often knew that smoking led to cancer or incurable diseases without paying attention to the direct effect of this behavior on each person's appearance.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the International Health Organization (WHO) classifies tobacco smoke as a class 1 carcinogen. This group includes substances that can cause cancer even in small quantities, there is no limit. They are completely harmful to the person in direct contact and also to others. 

Why is tobacco harmful?

Secondhand smoke is considered the most harmful substance in the residential environment. When a smoker lights a cigarette, breathing in the body will then release two main streams of smoke and secondary smoke. Specifically, 20% of smoke is inhaled in the main stream, the remaining 80% is called the secondary stream, arising when the smoke is pulled (between inhalations) and when the smoke is turned off. The main flue is generated at 950°C and the secondary smoke at 500°C. Therefore, the secondary smoke emitted contains more toxic substances.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, of which 60 are classified as carcinogenic. Typical toxic substances in cigarette smoke are nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar and benzene, formaldehyde, ammonia, acetone, arsenic, hydrogen cyanide,... They not only directly harm smokers but also affect the health of smokers. The health of those around (passive smoking) when it causes diseases related to heart, lung, memory loss, cancer and many other diseases.

Tobacco is harmful to the body because it contains a lot of toxins.

• Nicotine:  Similar to heroin and cocaine, nicotine is classified as addictive when it affects the central nervous system. Long-term exposure to this substance can increase blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to the heart, and narrow arteries (blood vessels that carry blood from the heart). In addition, nicotine also contributes to the hardening of the artery walls, leading to heart attacks. 
• Carbon monoxide (CO): As toxic as nicotine, when absorbed into the blood, CO has the ability to reduce the amount of oxygen used to transport red blood cells; It also increases the amount of cholesterol that accumulates in the inner walls of the arteries. Over time, the arteries will harden, leading to dangerous diseases for our health such as heart disease, arterial disease, maybe even a heart attack . 
• Other Small Molecules: Cigarette smoke also contains many stimulants in the form of gases or tiny particles. They have the ability to change the structure of the bronchial mucosa, increase the proliferation of bronchial glands, mucus-secreting cells and lose ciliated cells that cause sputum and cough. 
• Carcinogens: Cigarette smoke contains closed-loop aromatic compounds such as Benzopyrene. This compound has the ability to affect the surface cells of the respiratory tract causing chronic inflammation, destruction of tissues, cell changes leading to metaplasia, dysplasia, malignancy.

Smoking is not only harmful to your health, but it can also affect your appearance.

How does smoking affect appearance?

Smoking can also affect your appearance, this is true because the effects of tobacco on the skin are easily noticeable. Here are the harmful effects that smoking brings to your appearance. 

Puffy eyes, dark circles 

Puffy eyes, dark circles are very easy to recognize immediately. Smokers have four times worse sleep quality than non-smokers due to the lack of nicotine at night at bedtime. The consequence of this difficulty sleeping, insomnia is high puffy dark circles when you wake up the next day. 

Premature aging

Smokers will face an aging rate about 1.4 years faster than the average person.

Smokers will face an aging rate about 1.4 years faster than the average person. Why does smoking cause your face to age prematurely , wrinkles, and lifeless skin? Research shows that the two toxic components in cigarette smoke, nicotine and carbon monoxide (CO), have great effects on the skin. CO takes the place of oxygen in the skin, and nicotine is a substance that restricts blood flow to the skin, causing dry and discolored skin. Smoking is also going to deplete a lot of the body's nutrients, including vitamin C, a vitamin that helps protect and repair skin damage.

The smoker's skin will therefore gradually become less soft and healthy.

Hair loss, thinning hair

In addition to serious damage to the skin, smoking is also a culprit for hair loss. According to research, compared with people who do not smoke at all, men lose 2 times more hair. The toxic ingredients in cigarette smoke damage hair follicles and destroy stem cells, making smokers prone to hair loss and baldness.

In addition to serious damage to the skin, smoking is also a culprit for hair loss.

Psoriasis 

Skin diseases, including psoriasis, can be experienced by anyone, not just smokers. However, smoking is one of the factors that greatly increase the risk of disease. A 2007 study showed that, if you smoke, your risk of developing psoriasis increases by 20% within the first year; increase 60% if smoked from 11-20 years and doubled if smoked over 20 years. Exposure to secondhand smoke in pregnant women and children is also at risk. 

Dental and oral disease

Smoking causes dental and oral problems including oral cancer and periodontal disease. Besides, smoking is also the cause of bad breath , making the breath very bad.

Studies in smokers will be 6 times more likely to have periodontal disease causing tooth loss than non-smokers. In addition, the nicotine in cigarettes also makes the teeth of smokers appear yellow spots Hygienists.

Cataract

Tobacco smoke damages the lens, increasing the risk of cataracts . In fact, regularly smoking can increase the risk of cataracts by 22%, according to one study.

Golden Fingers

Nicotine in cigarettes turns teeth, fingers and nails yellow. Many people have tried using lemon juice, bleach, cotton balls ... to handle this problem, but the results only help to limit the yellowing of the fingers.

Hard to heal wounds

According to research, procedures such as skin tightening, tooth extraction or skin lesions often heal more slowly in people who regularly smoke.

Smoking can cause skin cancer in smokers. 

Skin cancer 

Not only is smoking one of the main causes of lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, throat cancer or esophageal cancer, but smoking can also cause skin cancer for smokers. 

In 2001, research showed that smokers were twice as likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma (the second most common skin cancer) than non-smokers. 

Belly flabby and saggy

The effects of smoking on your appearance are numerous. In addition to the consequences mentioned above, smoking is also a cause of loose and sagging abdomen. According to a Dutch study, smokers have more visceral fat than non-smokers. Visceral fat can appear in organs located very deep in the body and often accumulates in the abdomen, so it can increase the risk of certain diseases, such as diabetes.

Smoking causes premature aging  because it causes wrinkles to appear quickly. The easy appearance of wrinkles and the increased number of wrinkles is due to the habit of smoking a lot and smoking for a long time. However, the early signs of skin aging caused by tobacco smoke are not always easy to spot. And besides chronological aging, smoking was the strongest predictor of wrinkles in both men and women.