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How Smoking Causes Collagen to Disappear

How Smoking Causes Collagen to Disappear thumbnail
Quitting smoking reduces the risk of premature skin aging.

Everyone experiences some changes in their skin as they age. Skin often loses its youthful glow and wrinkles develop as skin becomes thinner and starts to droop. Some of these changes are due to the disappearance of collagen from the skin---and for smokers, collagen decreases at an accelerated rate. Does this Spark an idea?

  1. Collagen

    • Collagen is a fibrous protein that keeps skin full and tight. When collagen is damaged, skin begins to sag, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Chemicals

    • Cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals, according to the Mayo Clinic. Many of these chemicals damage existing collagen.

    Genetics

    • A study conducted at the Kings and St. Thomas' School of Medicine in London shows that smoking may activate the MMP-1 gene, a gene responsible for breaking down collagen, according to BBC News.

    Consequences

    • Smoking restricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the face. This reduced blood flow prevents the oxygen and nutrients needed for healthy skin from reaching the outermost layers of the face. Reduced blood flow combined with decreased collagen can drastically contribute to skin aging, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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  • Photo Credit cigarette image by Bartlomiej Nowak from Fotolia.com

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