reverse smoking/sun damage..

39617 Views 32 Replies 27 Participants Last post by Glamisgirl, Sep 30, 2010

jojo456

Discussion Starter · Apr 5, 2008

Can somebody tell me if smoking damage can be reversed and if so how long does it take to get the skin looking good again? I have been through a lot of stress in the last 2/3 years and havent noticed my skin deteriorating till now. When I was a teenager I would soak up the sun and got a couple of bad burnings.

Im now 38, smoked less than 10 cigarettes on and off since i was 22 but quit for the last 3 months. I dont drink much alcohol but always had good skin and looked at least 10 years younger than my age until recently.
3 months ago I did a serious detox regime where I cut out alcohol, **** and booze. Instead of looking like my younger self I looked at least 10 years older. I asked a chinese herbalist if it was part of the healing process where toxins are been released and you look worse before you look better and he said no that i should be looking and feeling good straight away.
My skin is horrible even though ive been doing everything right to help ie: eating the correct foods etc. its leathered and sagging with really deep nose to mouth lines and sagging around the mouth and deep lines under the eyes which seem to be permanent, the quality is shiny and dry. Ive also been doing a lot of research on skin products and have been using retinols and other products by skin ceuticals. Then tried strivectin on my face to see if it would tighten up the sagging. Ive also been doing chinese acupuncture and facials, the therapist said that it was working but i dont see much progress. Am I being really impatient, does it take time to really see a difference with helping you skin or is it too late? When I have asked advice on my skin in beauty clinics etc. they are very negative, as if you've done the damage now and its too late to turn back the clock unless you spend ?500 on this great product. Im not sure if they're genuine or not or just simply trying to sell you an expensive product. Even 2 days ago I had a dermabrasion done and I asked the beautician what she thought of my skin. I was at least expecting her to say it was good after all the work Ive been doing to it, she then said "its not bad". Ive started doing facial exercises also but not sure if this is a good idea. Sorry if this sounds complicated.. but does anyone have any suggestions or advice.

Thanks in advance.

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1 - 20 of 33 Posts

lynn

· #2 · Apr 6, 2008

I think that I've heard that if you stop smoking for a few years, the signs of aging start to fade. I'm really hoping that they do as I am a smoker as well. People say that if you stop smoking for a couple of years, your lungs can reverse the damage done to them. But I'm not sure if smoking causes permanent skin damage. I'm also curious!

longevity4skin

· #3 · Apr 19, 2008

I used to be a CHAIN SMOKER since high school and just stopped couple years ago. I regained my natural skin moisture after few months withthe help of the natural products that I'm using. I was hesitant to use it before when my mother -in-law introduced it to me. By the way she is the formulator...LUCKY ME!. Since then I became a religious user and I did not just quit smoking but I quit shopping for brand name, expensive skin care line. lol.

My favorite of all the product I use and I can't leave the house without the travel size bottle of this in my purse is my HABErry! pH Cleanser and for my skin not to be immune with the product,I alternate it monthly with the SEAWEED AND GREENTEA Cleanser.Awesome!

Functional Aging means wisdom when
"We put life into our years, not years into our lives" .

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DocDerma

· #4 · May 3, 2008

It takes years to reversed. But you can take supplement to clean your inner body. Good health helps good skin.

pills

· #5 · Jul 5, 2008

exercising helps too.

u shoudl work out n i heard that when u exercise u release growth hormones.

thus, ppl woho exercise more tend to look younger.

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banme

· #6 · Oct 20, 2008

Laura bush looks like an ex smoker with those lines around the corners of her lips too

chelsie

· #7 · Jan 12, 2009

I quite smoking 2 months ago and I can see my face changing every day, more glow to it, but you need to eat the right food, exercise , take lots of fresh air and drink lots of water, you will see a differenct in you skin.

Good luck

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janetk100

· #8 · Jan 12, 2009

Hi, I just read your quote and I hope I can give you a little hope. I am an esthetician and although I don't have all the answers I will tell you my opinion. It still may be good to check with a dermatologist. From what you wrote I think you may be doing too much to your skin. The products you mentioned can be very drying to the skin. Of course the best thing is what you said you are already doing in having a good diet. Also, drinking more water helps.I am learning about a different approach in skin care through a company called OSMOSIS and I will be using it in my business soon. They stress skin remodeling. Not so much exfoliation as in dermabrasion but getting your skin to heal in the epidermis ( lower layers ). It's not an overnight remedy. I have used it for about 5 weeks and have noticed some of the redness going away. Look online, they have alot of info. Good Luck

jojo456 said:
Can somebody tell me if smoking damage can be reversed and if so how long does it take to get the skin looking good again? I have been through a lot of stress in the last 2/3 years and havent noticed my skin deteriorating till now. When I was a teenager I would soak up the sun and got a couple of bad burnings.

Im now 38, smoked less than 10 cigarettes on and off since i was 22 but quit for the last 3 months. I dont drink much alcohol but always had good skin and looked at least 10 years younger than my age until recently.
3 months ago I did a serious detox regime where I cut out alcohol, **** and booze. Instead of looking like my younger self I looked at least 10 years older. I asked a chinese herbalist if it was part of the healing process where toxins are been released and you look worse before you look better and he said no that i should be looking and feeling good straight away.
My skin is horrible even though ive been doing everything right to help ie: eating the correct foods etc. its leathered and sagging with really deep nose to mouth lines and sagging around the mouth and deep lines under the eyes which seem to be permanent, the quality is shiny and dry. Ive also been doing a lot of research on skin products and have been using retinols and other products by skin ceuticals. Then tried strivectin on my face to see if it would tighten up the sagging. Ive also been doing chinese acupuncture and facials, the therapist said that it was working but i dont see much progress. Am I being really impatient, does it take time to really see a difference with helping you skin or is it too late? When I have asked advice on my skin in beauty clinics etc. they are very negative, as if you've done the damage now and its too late to turn back the clock unless you spend ?500 on this great product. Im not sure if they're genuine or not or just simply trying to sell you an expensive product. Even 2 days ago I had a dermabrasion done and I asked the beautician what she thought of my skin. I was at least expecting her to say it was good after all the work Ive been doing to it, she then said "its not bad". Ive started doing facial exercises also but not sure if this is a good idea. Sorry if this sounds complicated.. but does anyone have any suggestions or advice.

Thanks in advance.

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larry

· #9 · Jan 12, 2009

banme said:
Laura bush looks like an ex smoker with those lines around the corners of her lips too

A deftly combination of botox and fillers will do the job perfectly

Mari

· #10 · Jan 14, 2009

larry said:
A deftly combination of botox and fillers will do the job perfectly

I wonder about the use of Botox after reading today about the adverse effects.

Abigalee

· #11 · Jan 16, 2009

Hi Jojo, See a naturopath!! Eliminate toxic foods; pop, sugar, eat raw foods. Pick up the book Carol Alt wrote and get into raw foods. With these outward symptoms are you having pain anywhere or urinary issues? Are your teeth intact? any recent breakages? Make sure you pay attention to what is going on within you, are you well? If you are all clear and there isn't any underlying conditions and if you go raw for a while, with eliminanation of toxic foods you will see a dramatic turn around. One supplement you can try is Living Fuel RX - green! It doesn't taste well (like hay), but it is awsome to change and cleanup/feed your cellular level. A great product to use is ROC along with cocoa butter/shea butter nightly. You must make sure you cleanse your face GOOD before using these so you don't break out. Hope you stay off those smokes...they are so destructive!! Bless you and peace.

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larry

· #12 · Jan 19, 2009

Mari said:
I wonder about the use of Botox after reading today about the adverse effects.

it works wonders in relaxing the peri-oral muscle however it becomes less effective after the second time

lkc001

· #13 · Aug 19, 2010

longevity4skin said:
I used to be a CHAIN SMOKER since high school and just stopped couple years ago. I regained my natural skin moisture after few months withthe help of the natural products that I'm using. I was hesitant to use it before when my mother -in-law introduced it to me. By the way she is the formulator...LUCKY ME!. Since then I became a religious user and I did not just quit smoking but I quit shopping for brand name, expensive skin care line. lol.

My favorite of all the product I use and I can't leave the house without the travel size bottle of this in my purse is my HABErry! pH Cleanser and for my skin not to be immune with the product,I alternate it monthly with the SEAWEED AND GREENTEA Cleanser.Awesome!

Functional Aging means wisdom when
"We put life into our years, not years into our lives" .

Hi! can you give us the name of the product line you are using/or what natural products you are using, please?

Thank you

lookingforgreatproducts

· #14 · Aug 20, 2010

I'm 33 and quit smoking a couple years ago. I actually quit based solely on what it was doing to my skin. Since then, I do feel like my skin has gotten better, but it has taken money. That said, the majority of my money goes to good skincare. I have begun using retin a and vitamin c, which are very popular here. I also use tazorac which my derm recommended in place of retin a, but I use both on varying nights. I have also gotten Juvederm injections and one fraxel laser treatment, and I hope to get more. I believe that skin can be changed, but it takes a lot of money. (Other people may disagree.) I actually just saw a picture of Michael Douglas yesterday on TMZ in his 40s, and his skin got a lot better-looking over the next years of his life (though I'm sure it is showing signs of age. There are limits, of course.) But I feel like 20 years ago, we didn't have the technology or availability to the average person to use it. I work extra hours to pay for skincare items. So, I do think there are things you can do. I would say there is no miracle cream, but fraxel laser can repair skin, in my opinion. It is expensive, though, and there is a period of not liking your skin for a couple weeks. But, definitely worth it.

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Joyfullgirl

· #15 · Aug 25, 2010

I'm trying to quit smoking to save my skin too, I been trying for four years now and I have to say when I manage to stay quit for a few weeks my pores seem smaller. Smoking and the stress of being in a horribly physcologicly and emotionally abusive relationship has done untold damage to me and my skin! I was 37 when this started, I met the guy and started smoking, I had beautiful skin back then, and most people thought I was early 20's Feel just terrible about my skin now

I understand your concerns. Hang in there, for me a big reason I go back to smoking 1 because I'm heartbroken 2 cuz I don't see the improvements I want and just go back to smoking only to kick myself later! Stay quit what ever you do!

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2

desertrose

· #16 · Aug 26, 2010

I think it takes 7 years for nicotine to leave the body ?
In the meantime eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetable, salmon, nuts etc.
Drink water and exercise. Follow a good beauty regime.

My DH took Zyban for 2 months, more than six years now since he stopped.

glitterbug

· #17 · Aug 26, 2010

desertrose said:
I think it takes 7 years for nicotine to leave the body ?
In the meantime eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetable, salmon, nuts etc.
Drink water and exercise. Follow a good beauty regime.

My DH took Zyban for 2 months, more than six years now since he stopped.

I am very happy that your DH quit, desertrose. That is just brilliant.

The great news for anyone else trying to quit is that nicotine, although outrageously addictive, has an extremely short half-life (the time it takes to reduce to 50% original strength) of only 1-2 hours. In practical terms this means that however much you smoke, as soon as you stop you can have no more than 2-4 days of physical withdrawal from the chemical nicotine. The majority of that discomfort lies in the first 8 hours.

Nicotine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The psychological withdrawal is an entirely different matter and can last, literally, forever unless it is tackled effectively.

This is why so many people say the Allen Carr method works for them; once the psychological stuff has been revealed, it really is not that big a deal: 4 days of discomfort, just like a TCA peel for me

.

Once you stop, the time for damage done (by the nicotine and tar) to be healed varies according to the mount of damage done in the fist place, the organ affected and what you do to support their recovery, like the nutritional recommendations that desertrose makes.

I speak as an ex-smoker who wishes the joy of nicotine-freedom for all

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2

desertrose

· #18 · Aug 27, 2010

Thank you glitterbug for the information.
I am right next to you - 'wishing smokers the joy of nicotine-freedom'

AnEstheticiansDaughter

· #19 · Sep 1, 2010

I definitely think nutrition & lifestyle is the place to start... but, as my screen name indicates, my mom is an esthetician and continually sees amazing results by combining a peel with LED light treatment in a 6 week series. It helps decongest the skin and increases collagen production (etc. etc.). (Not the harsh kind that literally makes your skin peel).

Dardar

· #20 · Sep 1, 2010

I am glad to see i am not the only smoker out there and would love to know which products are most effective for smokers. I got a script for chantix but have not set a date yet. I asked my este about the oxygen facials but she did not think that would help- more for acne types. Its crazy-i spend all this $$ on skincare stuff and still smoke-what an addict i am.

1 - 20 of 33 Posts

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