Is Your Battle to Quit Smoking Sabotaging Your Skin?

Does quitting smoking cause acne? If you’ve finally kicked the cigarette habit, you might be surprised to find your skin rebelling. Just when you thought you were doing everything right for your skin and overall health, acne decides to crash the party. Don’t worry; we’re going to dive into why this happens and how you can manage it, whether you quit or not.

Hi, I’m Hazel

I gave up on skincare after years of issues with acne and sensitive skin.

But after going plant-based, my skin cleared up and even started to glow. Now I help women reveal their natural beauty with simple, delicious plant-based food.

I also used to be a nurse, and love nerding out on nutritional science (high-quality science, that is).

SEE MY JOURNEY HERE

As usual, this post is based on the strongest nutritional evidence I could find with a focus on the simplest, most delicious foods

…because who has time to waste on actions that don’t work?

Does quitting smoking cause acne?

Smoking can worsen skin conditions that contribute to acne by disrupting hormone levels and increasing oxidative stress. To help clear up your skin, indulge in delicious, antioxidant-rich foods like berries, smoothies with ginger and turmeric, and refreshing green tea—simple, tasty choices that make your journey to beautiful skin both enjoyable and effective.

Contents

How smoking contributes to acne

Cigarette smoking does more than just stain your teeth; it wages war against your skin health. Here’s how:

Depletion of Vital Nutrients: Every puff of cigarette smoke drains your body’s vitamin E and vitamin C. These vitamins act as your skin’s protectors, repairing and shielding it from damage.

The Kale Comparison: Take kale—renowned for its skin benefits. Smoking can zap the equivalent of a massive 200 cups of kale’s antioxidants (1). That’s a significant leading to a significant loss in skin protection and nourishment.

Impact on Skin Cells and Inflammation: This loss of antioxidants accelerates the breakdown of healthy skin cells and increases inflammation. More inflammation can mean more severe and frequent acne outbreaks.

Adjustment Period After Quitting: When you stop smoking, your body starts to regain these lost antioxidants. However, this recovery can initially trigger acne as your skin adjusts to healthier conditions.

The science of smoke and skin

Tobacco smoke wreaks havoc on your body’s intricate systems, particularly those that keep your skin vibrant and healthy.

Blood Circulation and Skin: The smoke and toxic chemicals from cigarettes inflicts serious damage on small blood vessels, impairing blood flow and blood circulation.

This reduction is critical as it starves the skin of nutrients and oxygen, vital for skin health and preventing skin damage.

Before you even think about quitting, your skin’s ability to heal and regenerate is compromised, leaving it dull, more prone to ageing, and less capable of fighting off problems like acne.

Oxidative Stress and Immune Response: The onslaught of oxidative stress due to the production of free radicals smoking contributes significantly to an inflammatory response and acne (2,3). It also undermines your skin’s ability to heal wounds and combat infections effectively.

This is very similar to the processes of acne, which is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. So as you approach quitting, your skin is in a heightened state of alert, struggling against the damage and preparing for recovery.

Smoking even contributes to and may heighten the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma.

This condition not only scars your skin but weakens the immune system’s responses,…which would also affect your chances of developing acne.

Why you might ‘break out’ after quitting

When you decide to quit smoking, it’s a significant shift for your body—one that can temporarily upset your skin due to hormonal and stress-related changes.

Hormonal Adjustments: Quitting smoking impacts your hormone levels, leading to potential hormonal imbalances. This is because nicotine influences various hormonal pathways, so when you stop, it disrupts the balance.

This disruption can increase sebum production, leading to acne breakouts.

As your body adapts to a new normal without nicotine, these imbalances may initially manifest as worsened skin problems.

Stress of Quitting: Emotional stress may also be linked to acne (4,5). The journey to becoming smoke-free is no small feat and can so induce considerable stress. This stress heightens your body’s cortisol levels, a hormone that when elevated, can exacerbate skin conditions.

Moreover, the withdrawal symptoms from nicotine can intensify this stress, making acne flare-ups more common. During this phase, manageing stress and supporting your body with the right nutrients is crucial for maintaining healthy skin.

How to support your skin during smoking and after quitting

Don’t let any anxiety about the question ‘Does quitting smoking cause acne?’ deter you. There are things you can easily do for your skin. Whether you’ve just quit smoking or are still trying to, revitalizing your skin starts with nourishing it from the inside out.

Dietary Choices

This is even more important than a skincare routine.

Switching to a plant-based diet loaded with antioxidants is crucial for repairing your skin. Foods rich in antioxidants help combat the damage smoking has caused, aiding in the recovery and maintenance of clear skin and robust skin health.

Just two weeks eating more plant-based will also improve your mood – which definitely helps too!

But if you aren’t ready for that, here are some simple, antioxidant-rich options you can incorporate into your daily routine:

Green tea: Sip on green tea or matcha throughout the day. Both are known not just for their general health benefits but specifically for treating acne due to their anti-inflammatory properties and high antioxidant content.

Snacks: Snack on a mix of berries—like blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries—which are superfoods when it comes to antioxidant content. Nuts like almonds and walnuts also offer a healthy dose of antioxidants and the bonus of good fats.

Smoothies: Whip up a smoothie with anti-inflammatory heroes like ginger and turmeric, mixed with kale, frozen berries, and a banana for natural sweetness. These ingredients are excellent for reducing inflammation and boosting your skin’s health from within.

Incorporating these simple, no-fuss foods into your diet can significantly aid in healing and protecting your skin, helping you see the benefits of your smoke-free lifestyle on your skin.

Heavy smokers: The more you can add antioxidant rich foods and drinks, the less your skin will experience harmful effects. Try a two-week meal plan for free if you can (some plant-based or vegan blogs offer them with no cost).

The Anti-Ageing Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking not only clears up your complexion but also has profound anti-ageing effects for former smokers. Understanding the link between acne, premature ageing, and the biological pathways involved can help you appreciate the broader benefits of giving up cigarettes.

The mTOR Pathway: The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a crucial cellular pathway that affects cell growth and ageing.

When overactivated, mTOR can lead to increased sebum production and acne breakouts—signs not often associated with premature skin changes like fine lines and premature wrinkles.

However, now that we know about the mTOR pathway we know what acne is an early flag for early ageing! (And even skin cancer unfortunately)

Smoking has been shown to stimulate mTOR activity, thus accelerating the ageing process and exacerbating skin problems.By quitting smoking, you reduce the overstimulation of the mTOR pathway.

This decrease can lead to fewer acne breakouts and a slowdown in the ageing process, contributing to healthy skin and reducing the appearance of dark spots/age spots. The reduced activity in the mTOR pathway helps normalise skin cell turnover, preventing dead skin cells from accumulating and clogging pores, which not only improves acne but also enhances the overall texture and appearance of your skin.

Reduce mTOR Activity with Antioxidants: Embracing a diet rich in antioxidants—found in plant-based foods—can further help modulate mTOR activity. Foods high in vitamin C and vitamin E are particularly beneficial, as they not only support skin health but also protect against the oxidative stress that can prematurely age skin.

Does quitting smoking cause acne?

In conclusion, if you’re wondering, does quitting smoking cause acne, know that while there may be a temporary increase in skin issues, the overall benefits to your clear skin and health are substantial. Nourishing your body from the inside out is key to revitalizing your skin after quitting smoking.

References

Most references below will link to the original peer-reviewed study itself. However, sometimes I will link to a video over at NutritionFacts.org instead, which is by far the single best resource of brutally transparent nutritional evidence you will ever see. Dr Greger tells a great story about the realities of the science and if I think you will benefit more from one of his videos, the link will take you there instead.

Happy nerding!

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