Smoking, Can it Harm My Skin?

Yes it can harm it in several ways. Here are more reasons to quit smoking now.

Skin is fed from within. The foods we eat are broken down into nutrients and waste. The nutrients are absorbed by the bloodstream which transports them around the body to the various organs, the largest of which is the skin. Oxygen is also transported and delivered in the same way. The cells absorb the oxygen and this is vital for the health of the organs and the life process itself. This whole process takes place automatically when we breathe........

Except when we are breathing in smoke!

When we inhale the smoke from a cigarette the carbon monoxide from the smoke is absorbed by the hemoglobin in the blood. Carbon monoxide is a colorless odorless highly toxic gas also found in the smoke from car exhausts. The blood can absorb carbon monoxide 200 times as fast as oxygen so a lot of the oxygen is displaced by carbon monoxide. The organs including the skin are starved of life giving oxygen and slowly poisoned by the carbon monoxide.

But that's not the end of it. Cigarette smoke also contains the following deadly cocktail of chemicals. Ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, butane, nicotine, carbolic acid, collidine, formic aldehyde, lutidine, parvoline, prussic acid, pyridine, arsenic and cadmium. This list is by no means complete.

The affect on the skin of all these is catastrophic. The liver goes into overdrive trying to expel these chemicals from the body and cannot perform its normal functions properly. The skin loses its healthy glow and takes on a yellowish-grey cast. The more cigarettes smoked, the worse your skin will look.

Smoking also causes premature aging in two ways. It uses up vitamin C in the body, about 35 mg for each cigarette. Vitamin C is an unstable vitamin and cannot be manufactured by the body. One of its functions is the preservation of the collagen in the skin, the substance that gives skin its plump and youthful appearance. The collagen beaks down causing premature wrinkles around the eyes and mouth.

The physical act of smoking causes us to squint, exaggerating the wrinkles around the eyes. Every time we purse our lips we deepen the wrinkles around our mouth as well.

Do yourself a favor! Stop poisoning yourself. Qit smoking now. Save the money you spend on these toxic weeds and go out and treat yourself to a facial or a new skin cream instead.

Your skin will thank you for it!

Like to have better looking skin? http://www.holistic-facial-skin-care.com will give you detailed information on all facets of skin care. The author, Wendy Owen has had a lifetime interest in general and alternative health and skin care.

RELATED ARTICLES Beautiful Eyes Beautiful skin care starts with what people notice first. Eyes are what others notice immediately; so start your skin care program eye-to-eye!Here are four major skin care issues related to eye care, work them successfully and look 20 years younger. Tanning Salon Equipment Tanning salons continue to be extremely popular in all areas of the country, during all seasons. Both men and women alike frequently purchase tanning services at their favorite tanning salon. A Review of Popular Sunless Tanning Products When the weather starts to warm up and the days get longer, we are all drawn outdoors to enjoy the sun. Many will recall seemingly endless hours outdoors, soaking up the sun's rays without a care. What the Peat Bog People Can Tell Us About Beauty Over the past centuries, remains of many hundreds of people-- men, women, and children--have come to light in peat bogs in northwestern Europe, especially in Ireland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, northern Germany, and Denmark. Peatlands are most extensive in northern regions. Should You Make Your Own Beauty Products? With the huge range of beauty products on the shelves, why do some people still make their own beauty products?I started making my own skin care products years ago. I got a book about natural skin care. Drop The High Street Drag - Shop For Style Online! Surely it's considered a major fashion faux pas - turning up somewhere in the same outfit as someone else. If the current crop of high street shops are anything to go by, however, you'd be forgiven for thinking that clothing conformity is something we're all striving towards. Contact Lens Cases - Caring For Them The Right Way A patient of mine called me a few weeks ago complaining that her eyes were hurting. I told her to come by the office and I would check her out. Getting Rid of Cellulite - The Best Anti Cellulite Creams, Treatments and Remedies It is estimated that about 95% of all women have cellulite. That is a staggering number, and seems almost impossible to beat! We are lucky enough to live in an age where cosmetic and "nutraceutical" technology is becoming so advanced, getting rid of cellulite is becoming easier, more affordable, and faster. Alpha Hydroxy Acids Alpha Hydroxy Acids treatments have the ability to create a clearer complexion. Free from acne scars,fine wrinkles or dull looking skin. What is Digital Nail Art? How is the procedure performed?After the nails are given a basic manicure, which involves cleaning the nail, removing the cuticle and any dead skin around the edge of the nail. The nails can then be given a base coat (usually a strong white) to enhance a coloured design. Orange County Plastic Surgeon Search The main problem is that of abundance. Finding an Orange County plastic surgeon is easy, the problem is to find THE Orange County plastic surgeon - the one who will meet your expectations. Makeup Tip: Beautiful Eyes Eyes have been called the windows of the soul because of how much they communicate. Eyes give your face energy and individuality. 7 Essential Beauty Tips BeautyBeauty is defined as the phenomenon of the experience of pleasure, through the perception of balance and proportion of stimulus. It involves the cognition of a balanced form and structure that elicits attraction and appeal towards a host, creature, inanimate object, scene, music, idea, etc. Petroleum and Cosmetics: What are the Potential Health Risks? What is petroleum?Crude oil, sometimes called petroleum, is a fossil fuel that was produced deep in the earth through a process that took millions of years to complete.Millions of years later, almost all of us come into contact with a derivative of petroleum every day. How to Remove Dye From Hair How to remove dye from hair which is designed to .. New Hair Styles for 2005 - Summer Hair Trend A variety of hair styles, colors, and trends are growing in popularity for 2005. New hair styles for 2005 include hair of varying lengths, from curly and wavy to sleek and straight. How To Establish A Base Tan Without Getting Burned Lets face it. A nice tan makes you look and feel great. Tooth Whitening, Tooth Treatment: Get that Perfect Smile! I would say a smile throughout the day keeps doctor away. Undoubtly, laughter is the best medicine as it not only supplies nutrients to the skin but also makes your skin glow. Anti-Wrinkle Lifestyle Tips Experts say that, when it comes to getting wrinkles, 10% is genetics -- but the other 90% is environment and lifestyle. This is great news! Why? Because it means that you have A LOT of control over your skin and how badly - and quickly - it wrinkles. Using Water to Make Your Hair Beautiful We tend to think of hair problems as being an external thing.In other words, we think that if we only wash with the right shampoo, condition with the right conditioner, or whatever, our hair will be beautiful.