Smoking may cause acne

by Chris Sparling (Subscribe to Chris Sparling's posts)
Feb 4th 2008 1:10PM

Categories: Healthy Habits, Womens Health, HealthWatch, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

You take a stick filled with cancer-causing chemicals, light it on fire on one end, put it into your mouth, and then breathe in its lung and throat damaging smoke. Worst of all, you do it over and over again for years. If an increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and a host of other potential health problems aren't reason enough for you to quit smoking, maybe something more superficial will.

A recent study, published the British Journal of Dermatology, revealed that women who smoke are four times as likely as non-smokers to develop non-inflammatory acne. Because nicotine constricts blood vessels and reduces the supply of oxygen the skin needs to produce new cells, smoking increases your chances greatly of breaking out.

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Comments (44)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Natalie 2-04-2008 @ 9:55PM

You should probably read what you've written before you submit it.

cattylady 2-04-2008 @ 8:59PM

oh dog turds to this!! one is prone to acne due to their own genetic makeup. i've smoked for eons and never had acne or even one pimple ever!! i've known zillions of people that don't and never smoked and they have what one can call a "pizza face"...red ugly pimples with white gunk oozing out of them. acne is due to the amount of hormones in one's body...normal amount, no acne...too much, one has acne. i think to close up blood vessels in your face, one would have to smoke nonstop, one after the other while awake, and i haven't run into anybody that's that addicted to cigarettes, cigars, or pipes...plus if there was, i still doubt it would give them acne. now i suppose they're gonna say that teeth rot easier in people that smoke. don't buy that either if they start saying this. i have all of my teeth and they're in fantastic condition and naturally super white too. getting acne, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc. is all in our genes and if one is predisposed to get something, they're gonna get it regardless of what they do, eat, smoke, or not smoke. alcohol causes more cancer than smoking does. alcohol lowers the immunity system in eveyone that drinks it. believe me, more graves are filled with drinkers than cigarette smokers, far many. gee, one stupid study by a bunch of no-nothing's and they have this carved out in granite already. these people here must be related to the bunch that say we humans, insects, birds, reptiles, and fish, are directly evolved from the flathead fish from 400 million years ago. i suggest all of those people get a new hobby.

Paulina 2-04-2008 @ 11:23PM

You had me at Dog Turds!!! I smoke too, and I have the best skin. I am with you on this one.

lynda 2-05-2008 @ 12:12AM

I agree I smoke and never had acne

Sara 2-05-2008 @ 1:20AM

I think it's important to point out two things about the article:

1), they only said that smoking MAY increase your chances of acne

2.), they are talking about generalities, so specific cases with contrary information don't necessarily invalidate the researchers' argument. There are always exceptions, especially when you're only dealing with a *percentage* increase in the *liklihood* of something happening.

Whether you're right or not, individual cases which don't fit the mold are not particularly meaningful when researchers are looking at thousands of people.

Leonard 2-05-2008 @ 12:07PM

The statement by the know-nothings is that woman are 4x as likely to get acne, and gives the constricting effects of nicotine on the blood supply as the pharmacological action for accelerated skin cell growth at the site of acne. Nothing in your post contradicts that statement.

terry 2-04-2008 @ 9:04PM

"nothing good ever came from smoking"
bad breath, yellow teeth, acne, black lungs, cancer, emphyzima, smelly clothes, smoking causes hair to lose it's shine, nicotine stained fingers, death.

Dave 2-04-2008 @ 9:34PM

Aemen to that.

D Bunny 2-05-2008 @ 2:19AM

Ummm, acne? I'd be worried about the serious shyt that smoking causes. Lol. Not that Im endorsing such a nasty habit. If people want to smoke, God bless that's their choice. When they die of cancer, it's their loved ones problem. Hate to be mean, but it's just the way the world is. I think they need to quit, but it's only a healthy suggestion/opinion. Also, if you want to smoke, go in a smoking area or stand still. I hate walking behind you inconsiderate smokers. You don't want to put up with my nasty habits and I don't want to put up with yours -From N.Y.C.

femmedevoyage 2-05-2008 @ 2:41AM

It's important to note that if a man and woman both smoke the same amount. The woman is 2x more likely to fall ill with some sort of cancer. Twice. When I see couples smoking I'm inclined to say "Those who smoke together will croak together" but of course that's not true. Statistically speaking, it's the woman who will die. How can a man who supposedly loves his wife/girlfriend watch her smoke?

E raymond 2-04-2008 @ 9:16PM

Aw, leave the smokers alone. They have enough problems.

jamie 2-04-2008 @ 9:22PM

Acne is the least of smoker's problems. I don't care what anyone does to their own bodies, but they usually affect others, also. I don't want to smell that crap. The bad thing is smoker's don't care about anyone else but theirselves.
They smoke around their kids knowing how bad it is for them and their kids usually end up smoking, too. It's just a weakness that conquers the weak.

Linda 2-04-2008 @ 9:34PM

Well Terry, there are many people with bad breath and smelly clothes that don't smoke. My hair is Very shinny, never ever had acne or any pimples, no nicotine on my fingers. I think you need to find cleaner friends with better personal hygine habits. As for health issues, yep some do, some don't, but that's not your problem. You need to work on not being so rude.

Dave 2-04-2008 @ 9:35PM

Add Pro Active to the cigs.

Mea 2-04-2008 @ 9:56PM

Well, maybe only the women will care about this, but smokers will have earlier onset of wrinkles in their faces; especially around their lips. Think about what happens to your lips when you purse them around your cigarette. Look at all those wrinkles that form. They will be there permanently in a few years, trust me. I saw that happen to my mother, who had gorgeous skin to begin with. It also affects the skin on the rest of your face, too. It gives you awful bad breath. I didn't even want to kiss my mom good night when I was small because of her tobacco breath. You think you don't stink, but you do.

rsk 2-04-2008 @ 10:08PM

Forget the acne for a second, what's with the typos in this article. WOW!

chris.sparling 2-04-2008 @ 11:07PM

What typos?

rsk 2-04-2008 @ 11:23PM

Last paragraph, two words. Sorry, I notice these things.

rsk 2-04-2008 @ 11:25PM

Oops, three words. Sorry! But you asked.

Lynn 2-04-2008 @ 10:11PM

This makes sense, I used to smoke and had a horrible time with acne well into my thirties. I quit 13 years ago and have a totally clear complextlion!!!! I also had alot of damage to my teeth, gums and jawbones

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