Smoking and Skin
Does smoking age your skin?
Twin comparisons show visible differences
Yes. Comparing 79 pairs of identical twins in which one smoked, blinded judges scored the smoking twin worse on lower lid bags, nasolabial folds, upper lip wrinkles, jowls and more. Twins share their genes, which makes the comparison unusually fair.
The twin comparison
At a twins festival in Ohio, researchers photographed 79 pairs where only one twin smoked, or one had smoked at least five years longer. Blinded judges rated wrinkles and age-related features. Smoking twins scored worse for upper eyelid skin redundancy, lower lid bags, malar bags, nasolabial folds, upper lip wrinkles, lower lip vermilion wrinkles and jowls. A case report of one pair, where one twin had a smoking history of about 52.5 pack-years, found that twin's skin more aged despite similar sun exposure.
Limits
Smoking history came from questionnaires, and the study did not test whether stopping reverses the changes. This page makes no claim about acne. Ageing of the face is a small part of what smoking does; a doctor or local quit service can help if you want to stop.
Questions people ask
Identical twins share their genes and often their upbringing, so differences between a smoking and a non-smoking twin are harder to explain away.
Research
Selected studies and reviews on smoking and skin. Each link opens the abstract on PubMed. This is background reading, not a substitute for advice from a dermatologist.
- Facial changes caused by smoking: a comparison between smoking and nonsmoking identical twins.Okada HC et al. Plast Reconstr Surg, 2013 · PMID 23924651Note: Comparison of 79 twin pairs.
- Smoking and skin aging in identical twins.Doshi DN, Hanneman KK, Cooper KD Arch Dermatol, 2007 · PMID 18087005Note: Case report of identical twins.
General information, not dietary or medical advice. These guides describe what studies found and how strong the evidence is. Talk to a doctor or dietitian if you have a condition, are pregnant or are changing your diet or supplements.