Does smoking cause wrinkles? Yes. Smoking can accelerate the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles. These skin changes may occur after only 10 years of smoking and are irreversible. How does smoking lead to wrinkles? Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. This impairs blood flow to your skin, depleting it of oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. As a result, skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely.

•Cigarette smoke is an immediate and direct irritant to the skin.
•Smoking decreases the capillary blood flow to the skin, depriving it of needed oxygen and nutrients.
•Smokers have less collagen and elastin in their skin. These proteins help to keep skin tight, soft, and elastic.
•Smoking irritates the eyes and makes smokers squint more; this may lead to increased wrinkles around the corners of the eyes.
•Smokers develop more hollowed cheeks and increased wrinkles around the mouth from many years of dragging on cigarettes.