How Smoking Causes Crows Feet and More
Smoking. We all know it’s bad but do you know it’s a major contributor to many skin conditions and complications, such as skin discoloration, breakdown of collagen and elastin, wrinkles, crows feet, skin aging, poor wound healing, and abnormal skin growths? Our skin relies on oxygen in order to function properly. Air is pulled into our lungs and is then carried throughout the body via the tiny and intricate network of capillaries. Without sufficient oxygen, the body and the skin suffer. Nicotine in cigarette smoke causes vasoconstriction or blood vessel contraction, which limits the actual size of the vessel. Carbon monoxide in cigarettes bonds with oxygen, greatly reducing the amount available to the body. This combination of nicotine and carbon monoxide not only limits the size of the vessel, but also the amount of oxygen flowing through them.
The sooner a smoker decides to quit, the sooner the vital organs and the skin start to heal. However, the breakdown of the dermal layers is not easily recovered by simply putting out the cigarette. Rebuilding of collagen, repairing elastin and improving the overall function of the dermis must be instigated. Regular chemical peels will improve not only the production of collagen, but will also improve the tone and texture of the skin. At Dermaworks, we offer a variety of peels to suit your specific needs.
Daily use of a collagen builder is also necessary. At Dermaworks, we offer our Collagen Stimulating Gel. This gel contains retinol, one of the best antiaging ingredients found today. This unique encapsulated retinol allows for optimal penetration of the skin and stimulates the production of collagen to repair damage such as crows feet. Integrating antioxidants is also a vital component to reversing the signs of aging and wrinkles due to smoking. For this purpose we offer our Powerful Antioxidant Cocktail Serum, and our Powerful Antioxidant Cocktail Cream. These products contain a powerful combination of vitamin C, E, and ferrulic acid. With daily us these antioxidants protect your skin against the damaging effects of free radicals, helps collagen production, and promotes healthy cell growth. To learn more about antioxidants click here.
Some not so fun facts about smoking:
- Just one cigarette restricts blood flow for up to 90 minutes (yikes!)
- The body produces more blood vessels to compensate for the oxygen restriction due to smoking.
- De-oxygenated skin often exhibits a grey or yellow tone.
- It only takes 15-20 seconds for cigarette smoke to impact each part of the body.
- Blood circulation is significantly decreased due to the vasoconstrictive nature of nicotine.
The effects of cigarettes reach nearly every organ of the body, including the skin. The sooner a smoker puts down the cigarettes, the sooner the body will begin healing from the damage of the nicotine and various chemicals contained within. The skin, however, typically requires more attention. With chemical peels and a comprehensive collagen-building daily care regimen, the skin can begin the recovery process. To book your appointment pleasecontact us.
