It’s been said over and over again: smoking is hazardous to your health. There are proven connections that link smoking to cancer, COPD, increased stroke risk, heart disease, and more. But there are also some consequences you may not be aware of.  Have you ever considered whether or not smoking can affect your appearance? The short and sweet answer is, yes. It is a fact and not fiction. Smoking causes wrinkles, but wrinkles don’t have to be the story of your face thanks to Botox.

How?

Smoking has the ability to speed up the aging process. This means wrinkles, crow’s feet, brow furrows, puffy eyes, and complexion changes. The more you smoke and how long you smoke are the major indicators of just how pronounced these changes to your facial features will be. In addition to all of the harmful chemicals in cigarettes, one of the main ingredients is nicotine. The combination of chemicals and nicotine is working against you. Nicotine constricts the blood vessels, causing them to narrow and slow down the rate at which oxygen is circulated around your body, including your skin cells. The cocktail of chemicals causes changes in the skin by rearranging molecular structures and decreasing the elasticity of the skin. Even the smoke itself, inhaled and exhaled, does damage by drying out the skin. Even the act of smoking can deepen impressions in your face. When you purse your lips to inhale and blow out, you are etching those lines into your skin. 

What You Can Do

If you’re a current smoker, you should start creating a cessation plan as soon as possible. You can go cold turkey, you can see your doctor for some pharmaceutical help or you can join a support group. There are plenty of options that can help you become a former smoker. Even if you’re not ready to give up smoking, there are some things you can do to help combat the damage smoking is doing to your skin. Here are some suggestions to help, that can even be helpful whether you’re a current smoker, former smoker, or a non-smoker:

• Stay well hydrated.
• Eliminate caffeine from your diet.
• Eat a nutritious and balanced diet.
• Supplement your wellness regimen with a multivitamin.
• Regular exercise.

A Cosmetic Option

Botox is a great option for correcting fine lines and wrinkles. A trained professional can inject the filler to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Injectable fillers like Botox aren’t permanent solutions, however. You will need maintenance done every so often to keep a less wrinkled appearance. If you choose injections before you quit smoking, it is likely that those pesky fine lines and wrinkles will appear a lot sooner than you’d like. 

It is a fact that regular and prolonged smoking can do a number on the skin, but you’re not powerless or destined to be a slave to smoking-induced wrinkles. Although injectable fillers are a good solution to smoker’s lines, quitting is the best option. Quitting may not be easy, but be encouraged that every good thing often comes with some effort.