Author Archives: Veronica Davis

All doctors agree that smoking is bad for your health. Smoking is one of the most frowned upon wide-spread bad habits. Smoking destroys your lungs and leaves you at a greater risk for certain types of cancer. While smoking can cause serious health concerns for your organs, it also deteriorates the epidermis.

Cigarettes contain a toxic cocktail of chemicals including cyanide, henzene, formaldehyde, methanol, acetylene, and ammonia. The combination of these chemicals can create an absolute mess for your skin. In addition to this mix of chemicals, smoking causes your skin to age more quickly. The aging of skin will cause cellulite to look worse. Smoking damages the collagen of your skin, which is the main structural protein of your skin.

Collagen is necessary to keep the skin looking and feeling firm. Collagen is also a key component of everything from blood vessels to organs. As you age, collagen begins to break down. Smoking accelerates the breakdown of collagen, meaning if you smoke you can start to age very prematurely.

Smoking also has an effect on the body’s production of hyaluronic acid. This acid is a compound that is produced by the body that adds to the fullness and tautness of the skin. It helps avoid the hollowing look that is often the result of aging. Breaking down this chain of hyaluronic acid can lead to dry, rougher-looking skin.

Collagen and hyaluronic acid both have an effect on cellulite. Skin that is firm and better able to retain moisture is better able to hide fat that is underneath its surface. Healthy skin is better able to hide cellulite. Weak, stretched out skin from smoking is unable to hide anything.

Smoking also affects the blood and lymph fluids. Based on the breakdown of collagen and hyaluronic acid extending to the blood and lymph vessels, smoking damages the vessels in our bodies that transport nutrients to the skin. Smoking affects the natural blood flow of our bodies. As a result, you will see poor nutrient transport, fluid retention, and increased appearance of cellulite.

Keep in mind, that these effects are not seen instantly. If you are younger smoker, you may not see these effects immediately. This means you have time to reverse the effects of smoking on your skin.

Author Information

Veronica Davis is a freelance writer for businesses online and internet business columnist for Examiner. She writes about an array of beauty-related topics to include cellulite and other problems women are likely to face.

Photo Credit: Cristina Chirtes