A study published in this month’s Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery proves that smoking really does make you look older. The study participants were part of a big national gathering of identical twins, and the study authors examined photos of each twin to determine whether one looked older than the other. They found that the twin that smoked less looked considerably younger than the twin that smoked more. There are some revealing photos from the study on NBC News.com HERE.
So why does smoking age a person? Many reasons. Smoking dries the skin, causing wrinkles. It also decreases circulation to the skin, resulting in less color and a wan appearance. It also creates free radical damage, which results in premature cellular aging.
So if you’re a smoker, what can you do? QUIT. Studies show that a lot of the damage that smoking causes is reversible. Once you quit, your body begins to repair itself. Now is as good a time as any.
