Antioxidant Skin Care for the Smoker
source:flickr by:Werner Kunz (werkunz1)
Antioxidant Skin Care for the Smoker
Smoking is terrible for one’s health. Everyone knows it, though many choose to ignore this fact and continue smoking due to stress, habit, addiction, social pressure or simply the enjoyment of the cigarette itself. In addition to increased risk of heart attacks, stroke and cancer caused by smoking cigarettes, the skin is greatly compromised by each and every puff of smoke. In fact, cigarette smoke is one of the main causes of premature skin aging, second only to sun damage. How can a smoker help reduce these smoke-induced visible signs of aging? In addition to kicking the habit, smokers (and ex-smokers) should use an antioxidant-rich skin care regimen to help repair the damage left behind by cigarettes.
With each inhalation of cigarette smoke, more than a trillion free radicals are created in the lungs. These free radicals cause an inflammatory response that then travels through the body, leaving damage in its wake. Plus, the smoke contains over 4,000 toxins that enter into the bloodstream and circulate through the body, including the skin’s structure. When a cigarette is smoked, it causes constricting of the blood vessels in the upper layers of the skin, thereby reducing the quality of circulation and diminishing the amount of oxygen and nutrients delivered to the skin.
Each cigarette smoked destroys up to 35mg of vitamin C, an unstable antioxidant vitamin that cannot be produced by the body. Vitamin C is responsible for preserving the collagen within the skin. In addition to killing the vitamin C, cigarette smoke also destroys collagen itself. Collagen keeps the skin looking plump and smooth, both youthful, beautiful qualities. With the body’s vitamin C stores destroyed, the skin begins to thin, sag and wrinkle, leading to the condition known as “smoker’s face“. Cigarette smoke also destroys another antioxidants vitamin — vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential to the prevention of damage to the skin. With reduced vitamin A levels, the skin is more prone to external damage, again leading to premature signs of aging.
The term “smoker’s face” was added to the medical dictionary in 1985. Characteristics of this condition include deep lines and wrinkles, thin skin texture, gauntness of the features, and gray or yellow skin tone. Unsurprisingly, none of these terms have ever been synonymous with beauty. Thankfully, there are many antioxidant skin care products created to help reduce these signs of damage in order to re-create a healthy, youthful appearance.
Whether you quit smoking years ago, are trying to quit right now (congratulations!), or somehow still choose to smoke despite the numerous health risks, antioxidant products can help you reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve collagen production and protect against future damage. One of the leading skin care products for smokers is UnDamage, a line specially developed for treating the signs of “smoker’s face”. Aside from UnDamage, any antioxidant foods or skin antioxidants will be beneficial in your quest for healthier, more beautiful and younger-looking skin.