How Smoking Affects Your Looks and How to Reverse Its Damage
The effects of smoking on one’s health are already quite well-known, especially regarding respiratory functions with the most common diseases being chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis. However, besides the internal health impacts, smoking also affects you externally. The longer you smoke, the older you’ll look, and the more stained parts of your body will become. Fortunately, one of the benefits of quitting listed by Smokefree is that these impacts on your looks can be reversed.
Here are some ways smoking can affect your appearance and what you can do to prevent them:
How smoking affects your appearance
One of the most noticeable ways smoking changes your looks is by affecting the skin. It causes premature aging, wrinkling, and the sagging of your skin, making you look older. Smoking impacts the production of collagen, a protein necessary for the elasticity in your skin, which is why it loses its firmness the more you continue to smoke. The constant pursing of your lips can also cause wrinkles around the mouth area, or squinting your eyes because of smoke can give you crow’s feet wrinkles.
Like how smoking ages your skin, it can also damage the hair by speeding up the thinning process, which naturally happens as you grow older. A study published in the International Journal of Trichology found that it is likely that cigarettes can play a role in the early onset of male or female-pattern baldness. Smokers were shown to have more severe grades of baldness compared to nonsmokers. It’s also suggested that smoking can restrict blood flow to the hair follicles, which leads to hair loss.
Excessive smoking can lead to the staining of body parts that frequently come in contact with cigarettes and smoke, including teeth. Yellow teeth are one of the most infamous effects of smoking, and doing it long-term can turn them brown and even weaken them. The tobacco in cigarettes can also lead to gum disease, increasing the chances of your teeth falling out.
The effects may sound worrying, but they can be prevented simply by consuming fewer cigarettes or quitting altogether. It’s easier said than done, but there are many interventions and innovations that can help; here are a few:
Using NRT products
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products are meant to aid smokers in decreasing their dependence on nicotine and tobacco. Whilst some products, such as patches, have been on the market for a while, many of these products are gaining a lot of popularity recently thanks to new innovations. Prilla’s selection of ZYN nicotine pouches are good alternatives for those trying to cut down their tobacco intake discreetly, as you can use them almost anywhere. This is because the ZYN pouches are unique due to their high quality. Unlike regular snus and cigarettes made from finely ground tobacco, the nicotine derived from the tobacco plant is extracted and purified with high-tech distillation procedures, ensuring that these pouches are tobacco-free. The lack of tobacco and its white color also prevents teeth staining, so you can be confident that they won’t affect your smile.
Another option is the nicotine gum from Fertin Pharma. Their various kinds of gums can be suited for those who enjoy chewing gum and want a sustained release of nicotine, or for those needing fast craving relief. Customizing the gum’s size, taste, and texture offers an enhanced and tailored experience that any smoker wishing to quit can enjoy.
Support resources
Social support can be beneficial when trying to quit, as it can be a very tough process, mentally and physically. Support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous have been a popular resource for years, but many interventions have moved online. Many smoking cessation apps come with a support feature, allowing you to connect with a community of smokers who’ve quit or are attempting to, and they can provide you with guidance. Even text messaging programs like SmokefreeTXT can give some additional encouragement through text, and there are other variations tailored for moms, veterans, or young adults to help them quit smoking.
Quitting smoking isn’t easy, but regaining your health can make the journey worth it. You’ll appear younger and healthier and feel just as great as you look. For more tips, check out The Garnette Report’s insights and posts on health.