New research published in this week's issue of The Lancet medical journal reveals how smoking ages the skin and why smokers can look much older than their actual age (refer http://www.thelancet.com/.)

A new study by Professor Antony Young and colleagues at St. John's Institute of Dermatology, London, shows that smoking activates the genes responsible for a skin enzyme that breaks down collagen in the skin.  Collagen is the main structural protein of the skin which maintains skin elasticity.  When this is degraded, the skin begins to sag and wrinkle.

Professor Young said: "Smoking exerts such a noticeable effect on the skin that it's often possible to detect whether or not a person is a smoker simply by looking at his/her face.  Smokers have more wrinkles and their skin tends to have a greyish pallor compared to non-smokers."

“Its ironic that many smokers will spend a lot of money on cosmetics to keep their skin youthful whilst the best beauty treatment is to quit smoking”, said ASH Chief Executive Anne Jones.

 
For further comment contact:
Anne Jones, Chief Executive on mobile 0417 227879 or (02) 93341876
Email: annej@ashaust.org.au

Page last updated on 5/11/2001