Smokers photographed alongside their non-smoking twins

Smoking and non-smoking twins

A recent study was conducted in which sets of twins were photographed in order to show that the years of smoking tobacco really do take their toll, especially on a physical level.

By the end of the study, 186 twins had taken part and the results are quite eye-opening!

There is a very clear difference between the quality of their skin, since the twins who smoked had a lot more wrinkles and spots and their skin seemed to be a lot more worn and haggard. You might even think there is an age difference between the siblings.

The effects of tobacco on the skin

It is a well-known fact that tobacco causes the skin to age quicker than usual, just like UV rays do. This is because nicotine has an irritating effect on skin, reduces the size of blood vessels and also causes the complexion to dull.

Other effects of tobacco

Skin is largely affected by cigarettes, but so is hair. When someone smokes, their hair tends to go grey a lot quicker than hair belonging to someone who does not smoke. Cigarettes can also affect the rate at which hair grows.

How to limit the effects

It’s never too late to quit smoking and when you see the results, it’s pretty motivating. Your skin becomes firmer and brighter, your taste develops more and your blood circulates better. If you are not ready to quit smoking completely but still want to keep your skin looking nice, you can always apply restorative and nourishing creams and limit sun exposure in order to prevent these effects from building up.