Does Smoking Cause Acne?

Most researchers agree that smoking in itself does not cause acne. But, evidence is now accumulating that smoking may make acne that is already present much worse. This is now specifically been shown for a type of acne called non-inflammatory acne. This has been recently demonstrated by researchers at the San Gallicano Dermatological Institute in Rome, Italy.

According to researchers, 42% of smokers suffered from acne, compared to 10% of non-smokers. But cigarette smokers seemed to develop non-inflamed acne at a much higher rate than other adult acne sufferers. Within the women in the study, three quarters of those with non-inflamed acne were smokers. The number of cigarettes smoked didn't seem to have an effect on the severity of acne breakouts. But if women had experienced acne in their teen years, they were four times more likely to experience smoker's acne as an adult. Non-smokers who suffered from non-inflammatory acne, about half (48.9%) were exposed to environmental factors, such as working in a steam-filled work environments or were constantly exposed to smoke, that could have contributed to their acne. Smokers who had suffered acne in their teens were found to be four times more likely to suffer acne as an adult than non-smokers who also had experienced teenage acne.

1000 women aged 25 to 50 were enrolled in the study. The findings were published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Another important aspect of acne and smoking is that it is a known fact that smoking reduces the healing rate. So with acne that is ulcerating or is infected with inflammatory lesions, it usually will take longer in getting healed. This long and poor healing will lead to worse scar formation and poor skin quality. Smoking also makes skin age faster. Smoking may not cause acne, but to treat acne faster, it is better to stop smoking. Smoking affects ALL the vital organs of the body leading to poorer health and lesser ability to fight infections such as acne.