Smoking and Cellulite

What's the deal with smoking and cellulite? Most doctors agree that smoking is harmful to your health, but can quitting help get rid of your cellulite?

Do smoking and cellulite go hand in hand? Smoking is one of the most frowned-upon but amongst the most widely-practiced of bad habits. The habit slowly destroys your lungs and leaves you at greater risk for lung cancer, throat cancer, and mouth cancer. And while smoking causes problems with organs, it also deteriorates the epidermis.

Cigarette smoke contains a toxic mix of chemicals - among them, cyanide, benzene, formaldehyde, methanol (wood alcohol), acetylene (the fuel used in welding torches), and ammonia. Each of the chemicals, some of them lethal within if consumed in any other form, so its no surprise that these toxins combine to wreak havoc on the skin.

Smoking accelerates the aging of skin, which makes cellulite look worse. A lot worse. One of the ways smoking damages your skin is by affecting collagen. Collagen is the main structural protein of the skin. It provides the scaffolding necessary to keep skin firm and taut. Collagen is also a component of everything from blood vessels to organs. Naturally as a person ages, the cells of the body gradually produces less collagen, one of the many processes that slows down and leads to aging.. Smoking accelerates the breakdown of collagen in the skin and in the body, starting it at a younger age and a faster rate than nonsmokers.

Smoking also affects the body’s production of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a compound produced in the body that adds fullness and tautness to the skin, avoiding the hollow look that often results in older skin. It works by helping the cells retain moisture. As with collagen, the body naturally produces less hyaluronic acid as it ages. But the free radicals that are either present in cigarette smoke or form in the body due to it breaks down the chains of hyaluronic acid, leading to skin that is more dry and haggard-looking.

Both of these have great effects on cellulite. Skin that is more firm and able to retain moisture (and thus smoothness) will be able to better hide the fat that is under the surface.. Think of skin like fabric. Healthy skin is like denim, and can better hide cottage cheese thighs. But skin that has been ravaged by years of smoking is more like spandex - stretchy, weak, and unable to hide anything.

Smoking also affects blood and lymph fluid. The effects due to the breakdown of collagen and hyaluronic acid extends to blood and lymphatic vessels, since both compounds are major components in the pipes that support our blood and lymphatic fluids. Smoking damages the vessels in our body, making them less able to transport nutrients to the organs that need them, including the skin. Smoking also affects blood flow by constricting vessels. Both of these side effects contribute to poor nutrient transport and fluid retention. This makes cellulite worse as well.

The only upside to the effects of smoking and cellulite is that the effects of smoking are not seen for awhile. In fact, if you are a younger adult, many of the physical problems that come with smoking may actually be reversed with proper self care. However, the longer you wait, the more irreversible damage that will be done to your skin and your health.

For more information about smoking and cellulite, check out this article!

More Information on Cellulite!

There's More Than One Cure For Cellulite
Still searching for a cure for cellulite? You're not alone. Many women are looking for ways to get rid of this skin disorder.

Causes of Cellulite in Men
What causes cellulite in men? Read on to find out more about men and this skin disorder.

Smoking and Cellulite
What's the deal with smoking and cellulite? Most doctors agree that smoking is harmful to your health, but can quitting help get rid of your cellulite?

Removing Cellulite - Learn How!
Removing cellulite isn't always easy. But don't let this frustrating skin disorder get the best of you!

Cellulite on Front of Thighs
Is there something special about cellulite on front of thighs as opposed to other areas of the body? Some people feel there is a difference while others say there is not.

Cellulite In Your Feet
How do you know if you have cellulite in your feet? It may be a condition called cellulitis.

Surgery for Cellulite Treatment
Looking at the possibility of surgery for cellulite treatment? There are many different ways to treat cellulite ? learn about the method of plastic surgery.

Painful Cellulite
What to do when painful cellulite is interfering with your daily life? Learn about the Stages of cellulite.

Diminish Cellulite and Stretch Marks
Hoping to diminish cellulite and stretch marks? You?re not alone ? many women are looking for a solution to a common skin problem.

Pills to Remove Cellulite
You may have seen advertisements for pills to remove cellulite. Are these supplements worth the cost and do they work?

Reducing Cellulite
With that special event coming up, you?re probably looking for a way to reduce cellulite. Use these tips to get smoother, firmer skin!

HRT and Cellulite
Curious about the relationship between HRT and cellulite? Learn what hormone replacement therapy means for your skin.

Menopause and Cellulite
Is there a connection between menopause and cellulite? Learn more about the relationship between cellulite and your hormones.

Deep Cellulitis Infections Leading To Amputation
You may have heard of cellulitis infections leading to amputations. But how often does it happen, and what is to blame?

Facts About Cellulite - What You Need to Know
How do you seperate the facts about cellulite from the fiction? See what the medical community has to say about this annoying skin condition!