Bad for your skin.

What is it that many of us do which has terrible, life-threatening effects on our health, causing our skin to degenerate, compromising oral health, highlighting cellulite and causing breathing difficulties and high LDL cholesterol? I'll give you a clue. Put this long, white cylinder in your mouth, light the other end and suck. You do what?

Yes, it is smoking, and no thanks to early Native Americans and Christopher Columbus for giving us the prerequisite to early aging, as well as many other effects which can shorten your life-span by as much as 8 years, compared to a non-smoker.

Then there are the risks of a variety of cancers, e.g. mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, lungs, pancreas and kidneys all of which are in danger. I could go on about the dangers of smoking while pregnant, but this has all been done to death in the media, and by family physicians, so before that glazed look appears on your face, the point of this article is to highlight the effects of smoking on your skin and the appearance of cellulite.

Smoking depletes the cells of oxygen and restricts the flow of blood in the small capilliaries in all soft tissues, particularly those of the face, and seriously compromising their cellular structure. This reduces the production of two natural proteins, collagen and elastin, which attach the skin to our muscle structure below it, giving rise to wrinkles, colour change, loss of skin elasticity and worsening of cellulite which appears around stomach, thighs and buttocks. Smoking also deprives the skin cells of vitamin C, an essential to skin health and repair. This is mostly due to the rapid uptake of carbon monoxide, a toxic constituent of tobacco smoke, by the blood. Passive smokers also are at risk from these effects.

These same effects can be seen in the deterioration of oral health, e.g. gum shrinkage, gum disease, discolouration of teeth and tongue, which are all symptoms of a downward spiral on a long and slippery path.
There is, however, good news! Quit! Right NOW! This is the only clear and acceptable solution! No amount of pills and potions will offset the effect of poor skin health while you persist in smoking. After all, you're giving up nothing, but you are getting your health back! So stop it now, and take the first step to a new, healthier you.

Put that cigarette out NOW!

Marjorie Thornton