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The Visible Consequences of Smoking
The visible consequences of smoking are not just yellow fingers, nails and teeth. There are other potential effects to a smoker's skin, mouth and eyes.
Facts
Skin
Smoking is related to psoriasis and premature skin aging, including wrinkling. Some of the chemicals in tobacco smoke can inhibit blood flow and the ability of blood to transport oxygen, leaving skin more vulnerable to wrinkling in smokers.Footnote 1a,Footnote 2,Footnote 3,Footnote 4,Footnote 5,Footnote 6a
The lack of blood flow and oxygen can also reduce the body's ability to heal sores and other wounds.Footnote 6b,Footnote 7,Footnote 8 Cigarette smoke may decrease the efficiency of the immune system, which also has a negative impact on the healing of wounds.Footnote 1b
Mouth
Smoking is a major cause of mouth diseases such as periodontitis (gum disease) and oral cancer.Footnote 9a
Gums affected by periodontitis can turn red and bleed, and the condition can lead to tooth loss.
It has been estimated that about one-third to one-half of all periodontitis cases among adults are due to smoking.Footnote 9b,Footnote 10,Footnote 11
Oral cancer causes lesions, sores and lumps that may be seen when the mouth is open, and can alter the look of the face when removed surgically.
Eyes
Smoking increases the risk of developing cataracts, the clouding of the eye's lens.Footnote 9c This condition is the leading cause of blindness worldwide.
This health warning message for cigarettes and little cigars addresses the visible consequences of smoking:
Quitting is more effective than other measures to prevent the visible consequences of smoking as well as other smoking-related diseases.
Need help to quit? Call the pan-Canadian quitline toll-free at 1-866-366-3667.
References
Footnotes
- Footnote 1
-
Rayner R . Effects of cigarette smoking on cutaneous wound healing. Primary Intention, Vol. 14 No. 3 August 2006:100-102,104.
Return to footnote 1a referrer, Return to footnote 1b referrer
- Footnote 2
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Jorgensen LN, Kallehave F, Christensen E, Siana JE, Gottrup F. Less collagen production in smokers. Surgery. 1998;123(4):450-455.
- Footnote 3
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Silverstein P. Smoking and wound healing. The American Journal of Medicine. 1992;93(1A):22S-24S
- Footnote 4
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Jensen JA, Goodson WH, Hopf HW, Hunt TK. Cigarette smoking decreases tissue oxygen. Archives of Surgery. 1991 Sep;126(9):1131-4.
- Footnote 5
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Birnstingl, M. A, Brinson , K., Chakrabarti, B. K. The effects of short-term exposure to carbon monoxide on platelet stickiness. Br. J. Surg. 58:837-839, 1971.
- Footnote 6
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Freiman, A., Bird, G., Metelitsa, A., Barankin, B., Lauzon, G. Cutaneous Effects of Smoking. The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. 2004;8(6):415-423.
Return to footnote 6a referrer, Return to footnote 6b referrer
- Footnote 7
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Hollinger JO, Schmitt JM, Hwang K, Soleymani P, Buck D. Impact of nicotine on bone healing. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. 1999;45(4):294-301.
- Footnote 8
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Mosely L, Finseth F. Cigarette smoking: impairment of digital blood flow and wound healing in the hand. The Hand. 1977;9(2):97-101.
- Footnote 9
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking. A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health; 2004. P.63-67, 732-736, 777-780.
Return to footnote 9a referrer, Return to footnote 9b referrer, Return to footnote 9c referrer
- Footnote 10
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Do LG, Slade GD, Roberts-Thomson KF, Sanders AE. Smoking-attributable periodontal disease in the Australian adult population. Journal of Clinical Periodontology. 2008 May;35(5):398-404.
- Footnote 11
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Tomar SL, Asma S. Smoking-attributable periodontitis in the United States: findings from NHANES III. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Journal of Periodontology. 2000 May;71(5):743-51.
