Today is National No Smoking Day and whilst you are probably aware of the health implications linked to smoking, did you know how it has a negative effect on skin health and premature ageing?

▪️Nicotine destroys vitamin C, which is an essential antioxidant for collagen synthesis, increasing lines and wrinkles and loss of volume.

▪️Smoking has a drying effect on the skin, therefore, compromising the barrier function and impacting on Tran Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL).

▪️It slows down skin healing and regeneration, leading to poor healing capacity.

▪️Smoking causes the vascular system to restrict, therefore, reducing the amount of blood (red and white blood cells), nutrients, and oxygen the cells are able to absorb. It can also cause broken capillaries – telangiectasia.

▪️It increases free radical damage and oxidative stress, leading to premature ageing, DNA mutation and inflammation.

From a skin rejuvenation perspective, whilst the right skincare and treatments can help improve skin health, as they say, ‘prevention is better than cure’! So if possible the best way to keep your skin healthy and reduce premature ageing is to try and stop smoking.💛