The aesthetic benefits of stopping smoking

According to some statistics, only one in 13 people who decide to give up smoking as their New Years’ Resolution will actually achieve this objective. 

This number may be set to increase in the near-term, however, with vaping offering a viable alternative to smokers across the globe. In fact, this practice has already contributed to a marginal decline in the number of smokers, which has fallen from 1.14 billion in 2000 to 1.1 billion this year. 

This also means that more people are enjoying the benefits of giving up smoking, including improvements to their health and aesthetic appearance. Below, we’ll look at the positive impact that abstaining from smoking can benefit your skin, hair and nails.

You’ll have Brighter and Tighter Skin

If you’ve smoked for a while, you may have noticed that your skin has become a little dull and dry over time.

It may even have become slightly discoloured, although this depends on the nature of your habit and how frequently you smoke.

The reason for this is simple; as smoking is thought to narrow the blood vessels beneath the skin and restrict the flow of blood and oxygen that reaches the surface. It’s also argued that this pastime can destroy collagen and elastin, making you more likely to develop frown lines and wrinkles in the future. 

Once you quit smoking, however, you’ll optimise the flow of blood to the outer layers of the skin, restoring its colour, elasticity and smoothness almost immediately.

Fuller, Thicker and Younger Looking Hair

As a general rule, our hair tends to thin as we age, regardless of whether or not you experience the symptoms of male pattern baldness.

Once again, this is caused by a reduced blood flow throughout the body, while there’s no doubt that the toxins in cigarette smoke exacerbate this process and cause your hair to thin at an even faster rate. 

Some studies have also shown that smoking can trigger early greying, which causes your hair to lose its lustre and youthful appearance.

Of course, the cessation of smoking could halt the acceleration of hair loss and help to maintain your natural colour for longer, and this is reason enough to throw your cigarettes away!

Healthier Nails

By now, you’ll have probably noticed that smoking deprives your body’s cells of crucial oxygen and nutrients, especially in instances where it’s a regular habit.

This rule also applies to your nails, as cigarette smoke causes them to become dry, cracked and discoloured over time. It will also hinder the growth of nails, making them more likely to break even under minimal pressure.

Like the damage caused to skin or hair, however, these issues are entirely reversible once you’ve taken the bold step to quit smoking. 

Over a period of abstinence, you’ll definitely notice that your nails are more resilient and less susceptible to developing fungus, while they’ll retain their natural colour and lustre.