Cigarette accelerates collagen loss and aging – 06/29/2023 – Equilibrium

Smoking is a socially accepted addiction and therefore difficult to give up. Smoking was once sensual, chic and a rite of passage into adulthood. Today, he is the villain in the stories of those who lost their lives to cigarette-related illnesses, such as cardiovascular diseases and various types of cancer. It is the enemy of skin health and beauty.

Dermatologist Mateus Rodrigues, post-graduated in clinical dermatology and aesthetic medicine at Academia Latino-Americana da Face, and master in aesthetic medicine at Esneca Business School (Spain), says that cigarette damage to the skin is chronic and usually appears in the long term—15 to 20 years after starting to smoke.

“The smoker ages faster, loses the texture and quality of the skin. Everything that people seek to improve, cigarettes go against the grain and make it worse”, points out Rodrigues.

For the specialist, those who cannot or do not want to stop smoking should follow up with a dermatologist so that the effects of cigarettes on the skin are not so deleterious.

According to plastic surgeon Luís Maatz, member of the SBCP (Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery), the toxins in the product cause problems ranging from a decrease in oxygenation and nutrient supply to peripheral tissues to a decrease in collagen production, which causes a cycle of skin functioning problems.

“A single cigarette already reduces the level of oxygen in the skin for about an hour”, says Maatz.

Collagen and aging

Collagen is the main structural protein of the skin. From the age of 30, the human being loses 1% per year. In smokers, it is estimated that this loss is up to 20% higher depending on the smoking load.

Substances inhaled when smoking cause early degradation of collagen. The consequence is thinner and flaccid skin.

“Cigarette toxins penetrate the fibroblasts – skin cells that produce collagen – and increase the production of metalloproteinase. This enzyme destroys the fibers and increases the production of free radicals, which attack the skin and accelerate aging”, says Luís Maatz.

The burden of tobacco added to the time as a smoker is an account with a result favorable to aging. Data from the WHO (World Health Organization) indicate that 9 out of 10 smokers started to consume cigarettes before the age of 18.

“Five to ten years of consumption of a pack of cigarettes a day already causes premature skin aging alterations. If the person has a greater predisposition, with fewer cigarettes per day and less time, it is possible to present premature skin aging alterations, accelerate the appearance of wrinkles, prominent lines, flaccidity, yellowish, reddish or grayish pigmentation”, says Maatz.

For female smokers, skin aging is greater. In addition to cigarettes, there are hormonal factors. Nicotine interferes with the flow of estrogen, a female hormone that acts in the synthesis of collagen and elastin.

In addition to the damage already mentioned, the act of smoking can cause the appearance of wrinkles that are caused by repetitive movements of the muscles of the face when inhaling. Popularly known as “bar code”, these expression lines appear around the lips.

Vasoconstriction and impaired wound healing

Cigarette toxins reduce the thickness of blood vessels. They become more contracted, which makes it difficult to irrigate skin tissue and oxygenate cells.

Smokers have more postoperative complications, episodes of stitch opening and wound infections. The little space for circulating blood affects the healing process, impairs skin recovery and regeneration.

“In surgeries, smokers have a greater risk of necrosis, both due to the vasoconstriction and the prothrombotic effect. When we smoke, we spend about an hour after each cigarette with circulation reduced by 40% to 50% in the skin and in the scar region “, adds the surgeon.

How to treat skin damage from smoking

Stains that appear or grow as a result of smoking can be treated with chemical or laser peelings, as well as microneedling with whitening substances. Skin care at home is also important, according to general and plastic surgeon, specialist in cosmiatry, Mayara de Castro Nogueira.

For sagging, collagen biostimulators with polylactic acid and radiesse can be used, for example, which stimulate the body to produce protein, reduce sagging and improve skin firmness and support. There are technologies with the same function, such as microfocused ultrasound and radiofrequency.

The treatments mostly soften the stains, but quitting smoking is the best option. “Depending on how long you smoked and the number of cigarettes per day, if it was too intense, it doesn’t go back to the way it was before”, warns the doctor.

“Barcode” wrinkles are softened with botulinum toxin applications. In the case of deeper ones, it is necessary to use skin fillers, such as hyaluronic acid.

Quitting smoking is not easy and many people resort to anti-smoke patches. However, Maatz warns that, although efficient, they can cause dermatitis.

The SUS (Unified Health System) offers free treatment to those who want to quit smoking. Interested parties should inquire at a UBS (Basic Health Unit) or Caps AD (Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Drugs).