Am I really seeing a difference in my skin since I quit smoking, or am I just imagining it?

Different how? A few years back my uncle quit smoking and I swear he looked different a few weeks later. When you smoke, you’re basically affecting collagens. Collagens are repsonsible for giving your skin elasticity and strength. When you stop smoking, the carbon monoxide is no longer there to impede the oxygen flow to your skin which results in the collagens to function normally which makes your skin looks better.

So no, you’re not imagining it at all.

@Tbag Different how? Read the details.

Cool! Maybe I’ll look 20 again after many months!

“Smoking’s impact on wrinkling, skin health and skin resiliency was first observed more than 30 years ago. But science now has a better understanding of just what it is about the impact of tobacco’s toxic chemicals, on multiple levels, that produces what has been dubbed “the smoker’s face.”

Dr. Anatoli Freiman, of the division of dermatology at the University of Toronto, authored a 2006 review of all the research evidence of tobacco’s effects on skin, which are largely due to the impact of harmful chemicals in smoke such as nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, mercury, lead and cadmium. Together, these chemicals reduce blood flow to the skin, reduce circulating oxygen, attack the skin’s architecture and cause the breakdown of supportive structures such as collagen and elastin (the fibres that give skin its stretch).

Source

I doubt you are imagining it.

Yeah, smoking fucks your skin. I look 60. Kinda nice to know this can be reversed.

@Dutchess_III Apologies. I read your question half asleep…

I never smoked but i know from friends who do say it’s the fastest way to look old and age quickly, smoking is the worst thing for your skin/health it kills off the cells and collagen that keeps your skin youthful and not only that causes many other health risks Kudos to you for quitting your skin can finally breathe now that’s why it looks better.

Yes. And you’re imagining it. I’m sure there are differences – I’ve recently quit as well. But our brains like to look for every little reason to atta-boy ourselves because the other part of our brain is still saying “just smoke up”.

Smoking is dismal. Great job for quitting and may that exorcist level demon never breach your psyche again!

I don’t think it can be reversed @johnpowell. Nothing I can do about the wrinkles. My skin just looks cleaner.

@Apparently_Im_The_Grumpy_One thank you!

If it was only a short time ago, than it probably is your imagination, unless you are drinking more water and sleeping better at night. You may also be doing things to better your skin. When people get into some health kick they usually start to exercise more, or eat better or hydrate more or take better care of their skin , hair, nails or teeth.

Many of those things can help make your skin seem clearer. Stopping smoking will also benefit your skin, hair and nails on a physical level you can see but it would take longer than a few weeks. Since it is spring you may also be getting more sunlight. Winter makes everyone look dull. But even if it isn’t directly or indirectly the reason you skin is looking better, just remember how much better your lungs look day by day. Best of luck.

Bravo for the one month achievement. I wish you a lifetime without cigarettes.

Actually, I have always drunk (dranken? drunken? drunked?) a lot of water. I have to consciously cut back on my water intake because it caused my sodium levels to drop, and that was no fun.