What do smoking and alcohol do to the ageing of your skin?
Both smoking and heavy alcohol use speed up skin ageing through harmful molecules, inflammation, and damage to small blood vessels. Quitting smoking or cutting back on alcohol is therefore one of the most effective steps you can take for your skin as well.
Smoking is one of the seven most firmly established risk factors for skin ageing, in the same category as excessive sun exposure and air pollution. This applies to several forms of skin ageing at once: wrinkles, changes in skin texture, and other visible signs of ageing. It is an avoidable factor, which means that giving up smoking is also worth doing for the sake of your skin.
The damage works through three overlapping routes. Smoking raises the level of harmful molecules in skin tissue, fuels chronic low-grade inflammation, and damages the tiny blood vessels that supply the skin. Poorer circulation means less oxygen and fewer building blocks reach the skin, which speeds up the ageing process. There is also a suggestion that smokers more often experience drooping eyelids, but that link was not quite strong enough statistically to draw firm conclusions.
Heavy alcohol use affects the skin through the same three routes: harmful molecules, inflammation, and damage to small blood vessels. It is worth stressing that this concerns heavy use; the available studies say nothing about moderate drinking. On top of that, alcohol is more broadly linked to skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, and a higher risk of skin cancer. Of all the drinks that have been studied, alcohol shows the most consistently reported negative association with skin health, although the cause-and-effect relationship has not been equally well established for every condition.
This answer draws on two overview studies that bring together multiple earlier studies, supplemented by a review on drinks and skin health and a large population study on drooping eyelids. The link between smoking and skin ageing is the most strongly supported; for alcohol the evidence is somewhat narrower, mainly because the available studies measure associations but cannot always prove cause and effect.
Does smoking also age your skin from the inside?
Smoking does not only age the outside of your skin; it damages blood vessels, protective barriers and inflammation levels from the inside out. Quitting helps, but some damage, such as arterial hardening, remains visible for decades.
Does chronically poor air quality age your skin?
Chronic exposure to air pollution measurably accelerates skin ageing, and the evidence for this is reasonably consistent. If you live or work in a structurally polluted environment, paying extra attention to your skin barrier (a good moisturiser, sun protection) is a worthwhile step.
Does menopause accelerate skin ageing?
Menopause noticeably accelerates the loss of collagen, moisture retention and skin thickness, but spots and skin cancer are almost certainly caused by sunlight. If you are experiencing skin complaints around menopause, discuss with your doctor whether HRT makes sense for you as an overall package.
Does urban pollution accelerate the ageing of your skin?
Urban pollution probably accelerates skin ageing, primarily through increased pigmentation spots and a weakened skin barrier. The combination with sun exposure is the most harmful, so good sun protection is the most concrete step you can take right now.
Does sleep deprivation age your skin faster?
Sleep deprivation demonstrably worsens your hydration, elasticity, and wrinkles, after as little as one poor night. Aim for consistently adequate sleep, and combine it with sun protection for the best result.
What really helps against skin ageing?
Using sunscreen every day is the best-supported way to slow skin ageing, complemented by not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation and getting enough sleep. Cosmetic options such as thread lifts and honey in creams have a weaker or not yet sufficiently proven basis and call for a careful weighing of the risks.