With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that 46 million Americans or almost 21 percent of Americans smoking, the combination of aging and smoking is a hot topic. The process of aging is affected by smoking and while only one of those is preventable, knowing the facts about both is very beneficial.
Aging
Aging is a natural process that happens to all living things. Princeton defines it as "the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age." This process affects changes to all body systems and parts including the skin. Activities that people participate in and choices made throughout the entire lifetime have an effect on how quickly the aging process occurs and how visible those effects are.
Smoking
Smoking--- inhaling smoke and fumes from a cigarette, cigar or pipe is considered an addictive habit due to the presence of nicotine in tobacco. Over 420,000 people die because of their smoking habit, while secondhand smoke kills about 50,000 nonsmokers each year. Nicotine gives the user a pleasant feeling as it acts on the brain and central nervous system's chemistry. The nicotine sends dopamine to the reward center which makes the user crave it more. Smoking is common among young people with about 20 percent of U.S. high school students considered current smokers.
Process
A 2009 study found that smoking accelerates the aging process which not only makes the outward skin appearance look older but has an effect on the biological aspect of aging. Smoking causes cell damage inside the body thus ramping up the aging process. Smoking also causes damage to the cells in the lungs that would normally help repair damage. The aging process is not only sped up but the lifespan of the smoker is shortened by an average of 10 years.
Effects
Smoking reduces blood flow, which can slow down the healing process and cause wrinkles and the skin to looks older. The cells that are exposed to smoke are broken down and have less collagen which means the skin may sag more as well. While wrinkles are a part of the normal aging process, smoking causes them to be prevalent prematurely. Smoking also causes the skin to have a gray, pale appearance. Nicotine increases blood pressure, reduces blood flow to the body and slows digestion.
Considerations
There is no safe way to smoke and any form of smoking will lead to the aging effects on the skin. Some damage to the skin will not appear until years after beginning to smoke but once skin damage due to smoking is done, there is no way to reverse the process. The aging process can be eased by reducing stress, eating a healthy diet, exercising properly and getting enough sleep.
