Identical Twins Exhibit Unusual Differences in Facial Appearance Due to One's Smoking Habit Versus the Other's Abstinence
Smoking Accelerates Facial Aging, Study Finds
A new study conducted by researchers at Case Western Reserve University has revealed that smoking can have a significant impact on the face, causing premature aging. The study, published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, found that smoking causes specific physical changes, such as increased wrinkles, sagging skin, and reduced skin elasticity.
Dr. Bahman Guyuron, who led the research, stated that with longer follow-up, every smoking twin might exhibit a difference in aging. The study involved 79 sets of twins between the ages of 18 to 78, with one twin smoking significantly longer than the other. The facial features were assessed on a four-point scale by medical professionals, revealing visibly worse aging signs for the smoking twins.
Key effects of smoking on the face include increased wrinkles particularly around the lips and jowls, upper eyelid skin redundancy (sagging or loose skin), reduced collagen production and increased collagen degradation, decreased skin circulation, nicotine reducing skin thickness, and the presence of "festoons of loose skin" underneath the eyes. Dr. Guyuron noted that the presence of these festoons is a distinct physical indicator of smoking.
Another similar study determined the effects of smoking and sun exposure on the skin. The results showed that these bad habits have an enormous toll on the skin. When Dr. Guyuron sees 'festoons of loose skin' under a patient's eyes, he knows they smoke.
The study did not determine the twins' diets or their living environments, but it is well-known that smoking is harmful to almost every organ in the human body. Smoking increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and Type 2 diabetes.
The study was conducted by the Department of Plastic Surgery at Case Western Reserve University. Medical students and two registered doctors assessed the images and found that smoking accelerates aging, even after just five years. One twin sister who had never smoked and was rarely exposed to the sun remarked that she loves being called the younger one.
In conclusion, the study highlights the negative impact of smoking and sun exposure on the skin. It is crucial for individuals to be aware of the long-term effects of smoking on their health and appearance, and to seek help if they are struggling to quit.
- In light of the recent study on facial aging, one might expect that the news about the impact of smoking on the skin could feature increased health-and-wellness awareness campaigns.
- The events surrounding the release of the study on smoking and facial aging might include discussions about skin conditions and the reduced elasticity caused by smoking, leading to unwelcome signs of aging.
- In the realm of science, further research could explore the specific features of medical-conditions, such as the presence of "festoons of loose skin" underneath the eyes, that are linked to smoking, shedding light on ways to prevent or reverse the signs of premature aging.
