Smoking is a killer habit. It causes emphysema, heart disease and lung cancer. Did you also know that puffing on cigarettes accelerates the skin`s aging process? In fact, experts say that the damage caused by smoking is on a par with extensive sun damage. Keep reading to learn how smoking ravages your skin and find out how to help reverse the damage.

Puffing=Wrinkles

Smoking causes the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin to narrow (called vasoconstriction). This cuts blood flow to your skin, depleting it of essential oxygen and important nutrients, including Vitamin A. Smoking also disturbs collagen and elastin, the fibers that gives skin tone and elasticity. Consequently, smoker’s skin will sag and wrinkle prematurely.

To make matters worse, continuous exposure to the heat from burning cigarettes and the repeated pursing of your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke contributes to wrinkles and grooves around the eyes and mouth. Because nicotine is a diuretic, smoking dries out the surface of the skin.

Reversing the Damage

If you are a former smoker or are in the process of quitting, there are steps you can take to lessen the impact on your skin.

·    To replenish your system with the nutrients, consume a daily diet of healthy, whole foods, including a variety of fruits and vegetables. Eat a variety of healthy foods every day. Include high fiber foods such as whole grains, beans and lentils.

·    Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily to help flush toxins out of your body and to keep skin hydrated.

·    Limit your alcohol and caffeine intake. If you can’t live without caffeine, drink green tea. It’s loaded with antioxidants and has proven anti-inflammatory properties.

·    Increase your intake of Vitamin C- smoking depletes your body of this collagen-building vitamin. Also consider using a high-quality Vitamin C serum.

·    To get the blood flowing to your skin, take plenty of exercise.

·    Exfoliate at home with an AHA lotion or mask. If you have sensitive skin, try a light enzyme mask. Consider booking a series of AHA peels or microdermabrasion to brighten dull, sallow skin. With all the money you save from quitting smoking—you can’t afford not to do the absolute best for your skin.

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