Does Smoking Cause Cellulite?

Picture of a Cigarette
Image Credit: Fried Dough w/CC License

There are many different things that cause cellulite. It ranges from everything from food, genetics and even alcohol. For those of you who smoke and worried about cellulite, then you should take some time and read the correlation between lighting up a cigarette and this skin condition.

If you a smoker, you are not going to start seeing cellulite appear on the body, nor will it disappear if you stop smoking. Smoking does not cause cellulite; however, if you already have it, smoking is known to worsen the appearance of it.

What Role Does Smoking Play in Causing Cellulite?

It is known that smoking is bad for you; this is something that has been drilled in our heads since we can remember. We know about all the negatives, from the possibility of cancer, the toll it takes on the body and the way it affects the skin.

Cigarette smoke affects the body in many different ways, but it is particularly damaging to vein and capillary walls. The nicotine found in cigarettes constricts blood vessels and reduces oxygen flow to the skin and this will greatly reduce the ability of the skin to repair itself. Cigarette smoke also contains many different toxins and chemicals such as acetylene, ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde and methanol and all these toxic chemicals damage the connective tissue of the skin and causes the dimpled effect that makes the look of cellulite even worse.

Collagen

Another reason to cut back or quit smoking is that the chemicals in cigarette smoke causes collagen in your body to break down. When you take a look at the skin, you will see that collagen is a major structural component that is responsive for giving the skin its structure and also helps it to remain firm. When there is less collagen, the dermis of the skin will weaken and this will allow the fat cells to protrude. When these fat cells begin showing, the end result is that lumpy cottage cheese look known as cellulite. If you already have cellulite to begin with, smoking will only make it worse.

Damage to Blood Vessels

Smoking causes slow damage to blood and lymph vessels and over time, this will cause leakage and inflammation. When there is leaking from lymph and blood vessels, you will realize that there is more water retention and this is also another cause of cellulite. There is also less blood and lymph flow from damaged vessels, especially close to the surface of the skin. All of this will cause inadequate circulation and this is also another contributor to the development of cellulite.

Hyaluronic Acid

The chemical hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the skin. Hyaluronic acid allows the skin to retain moisture and is essential for skin hydration. When you smoke, the levels of hyaluronic acid decreases and the less of it you have, the chances increase for the skin to sag, as well as the fat cells protrude, causing cellulite to develop.

As you can see, smoking cause so much damage to the skin and it is pretty easy to see why the look of cellulite will be worse. If you don’t like the look of cellulite and you want to get rid of it, then you are going to have to take a multi-faceted approach and change your whole lifestyle and that includes smoking.

The majority of people will continue living and trying all the trick methods to reduce the look of cellulite, but the only way to accomplish this is by eating properly, exercising, losing weight and cutting out toxins such as alcohol and cigarettes. The evidence is there that women who have purged themselves have seen the dimpled skin either lessen or totally disappear.

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