User talk:Twixamot
If dire health warnings and pub bans were not enough to put smokers off the habit, they may think again after scientists revealed it causes acne.
The spotty skin disorder particularly affects female smokers according to The British Journal of Dermatology. This 'smokers' acne' is characterised by blocked pores and large blackheads but less inflamed spots than normal acne.
The researchers conducted a study of 1000 women aged 25 to 50 and found that 42 percent of smokers had acne compared to only one in ten non-smokers.
Furthermore, 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.
The team identified a particular type of acne called NIA (non-inflammatory acne) to be common among smokers.
Dr Bruno Capitanio, one of the study's authors, said: "Our study demonstrates that NIA affects a high percentage of women, and is especially high among smokers.
"Recognizing this form of acne is fundamental to providing correct information about the effects of tobacco on the skin."
Dr Colin Holden, President of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: "Dermatologists have long associated smoking with premature ageing of the skin, wrinkles and a leathery complexion.
"However, scientists are now increasingly linking the habit with acne. For people who suffered acne as teenagers, the probability of also suffering acne in adulthood is four times higher in smokers than non-smokers. This suggests that smoking could be a major contributing factor for adult acne if you are already predisposed to the disorder.
"This study also shows an interesting link between a specific type of acne and smoking. All of these findings will hopefully provide people with an extra incentive to quit."
Smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK. Every year, around 114,000 smokers die from smoking-related diseases such as heart disease and lung cancer.
About 70 per cent of smokers say that they want to stop smoking, but most believe they are unable to. However, around half of all smokers eventually manage to give up.