Nikki Sommer, a nurse practitioner with Key West Surgical Group, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning for Medical Matters.
The effects of smoking, vaping and other nicotine products can be more far reaching than people realize.
“Having nicotine exposure can affect the skin quality, collagen, elasticity, circulation, and even how we heal,” Sommer said. “This isn’t to criticize anyone who smokes or vapes. This again is just educational. I’m just stating the facts.”
A recent study compared skin characteristics in 52 men. Twenty-eight were current smokers, while 24 had never smoked. The smokers had used cigarettes for an average of about 15 and a half years and smoked approximately 15 cigarettes per day.
Researchers examined several characteristics of the participants’ skin, including hydration, water loss, pigmentation, oil production, elasticity, skin thickness and density, as well as facial folds.
One of the findings was reduced skin elasticity in the forehead among smokers.
Elasticity refers to the skin’s ability to stretch and then return to its original position. As people age, that ability naturally decreases, but smoking and nicotine exposure can contribute to premature aging.
Sommer said, “Normal aging causes changes in collagen. Sun exposure is a major contributor. Genetics matter. Hormones matter. Repeated facial movements, it could create early wrinkling. But smoking again is another consistent exposure where it’s going to cause or has been associated with premature aging.”
Smoking can interfere with the skin’s structural support system, including collagen and elastin.
Researchers have found decreased collagen production in smokers, she said, which can make it more difficult for the skin to repair itself.
Circulation is another important factor.
Nicotine causes vasoconstriction, meaning it narrows blood vessels. Because the skin relies on a network of small blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients, reduced blood flow can affect collagen production and wound healing.
“We need the adequate blood flow. We need the oxygen, the nutrients. We need properly functioning immune cells,” Sommer said. “So if we’re damaging that, we’re not going to repair as quickly as we should.”
Cigarette smoke also contains carbon monoxide and other chemicals, meaning the effects of smoking involve more than nicotine alone.
Vaping can present similar concerns when the products contain nicotine.
“Many vaping products do contain nicotine, and nicotine can affect blood vessel function and circulation the same,” Sommer said.
She noted that research into vaping and wound healing is still developing, but researchers are finding indications that vaping can affect tissue repair.
Patients should be forthcoming with medical providers about all forms of nicotine use, not just traditional cigarette smoking.
“If you vape, it has some medical implications,” Sommer said. “Or if you use nicotine pouches, other products with nicotine, tell your surgeon or procedural provider.”
That information can be particularly important before a surgical procedure because impaired circulation can delay wound healing.
Nicotine-related circulation problems can also affect the body’s ability to produce collagen and support the cells responsible for repairing tissue. The effects can also be visible in the skin itself, particularly among people who have smoked for many years.
Sommer said she sometimes sees skin that appears dense or thick in long-term smokers, while the underlying tissue may not have the same strength or ability to respond to treatments that stimulate collagen and elastin.
Patients should have realistic expectations about how their skin may respond to procedures or treatments if they continue to use nicotine.
For more information on how Key West Surgical Group can help, click here: https://www.keywestsurgicalgroup.com/