Over the weekend I had a facial by a dear friend, Erin M. who is in beauty school. After finishing college she discovered a bigger love and went for it! Lucky for me, I’m enjoying all sorts of very, very affordable skin treatments. Interestingly, on the questionnaire she gave me was a question about smoking. I didn’t understand. What does it matter if someone smoked or not when getting a facial. Oh my, it makes a HUGE difference. I never realized the full impact of smoking cigarettes on the skin and the face in particular! The moral of this story is if you are after that youthful glow…then stop smoking! Or if you are young, don’t start! Egads. I asked Erin to explain why this was a problem and here is what she shared…
“Like a new car being waxed and cleaned, your skin has a natural barrier of elasticity, vital for cell renewal. Smoking pollutes that natural protection, like dirt and debris collecting on that new car. Terotogens (I can’t even pronounce that one) from cigarette smoke gradually wear that barrier down”. She explained that skin products that would one person will NOT work on the face of a smoker and that different kinds of products are needed! Who knew right? I’ve never been a smoker, but of course, since Saturday I’ve been walking around trying to check out the skin of smokers. Which is not easy since I don’t smoke or go around folks who are smoking.
image courtesy of the American Lung Association
I truly hope teenagers and younger people read this and consider that their face will have a different color due to smoking. If you are a smoker there is free help! Call the American Lung Association Help Line–which I would like to add is NOT federally funded and is open right now to help you. Simply call 1-800-LUNGUSA or 1-800-586-4872. This free help line is and you will find a registered nurse or respiratory therapist on the other end of the phone who can guide you! You can even chat online or submit an online question too about smoking, lung cancer, asthma –basically anything lung related.
Bonus: if you live in Reno, NV–Erin M is attending school at Marinello’s School of Beauty and the prices are insanely affordable! My 1.5 hour facial was a mere $25 and it was fantastic! You can make an appointment with Erin M by calling Marinello’s at 775-355-6677.
..still one of my favorite signs about smoking. This statement makes a point.
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
My entire family smokes. Their skin has a smell & is stained. In addition, the lines around their mouths are deep & very unattractive. Their skin appears dried out & ashy, although it might be the continued theme of unhealthy lifestyle choices. They have yellow teeth and a chronic cough. Some of them even use an inhaler prior to inhaling from the lit cigarettes.
*I miss the old format for your blog, Caroline.
Hi Judie,
I’m sorry to hear your family is suffering so. Back in the day doctors actually told people to smoke thinking it helped their lungs. It’s hard to quit once folks start. I just never knew about skin until Erin told me all about it.
I was happy to receive the affordable facial, I never realized how nice those beauty schools are, but it was even more fruitful to learn about the skin and smoking!
There are partisan differences as well. While most Democrats (55 percent) think the government is not paying enough attention to the needs and problems of blacks and other minorities, most Republicans either think it is paying the right amount (43 percent) or too much (29 percent).