It is wise to avoid smoking, if for no other reason than that it damages the appearance of the skin. (There are other, even better, reasons too!) Cigarette smoke and tar deprive the skin of the nutrients and oxygen it needs for good health, ultimately leaving it looking dull and lifeless. They lead to the formation of harmful free radicals and weaken the collagen and elastin fibres, with the result that the skin becomes prematurely wrinkled.

Smoking Ages You...
Along with sun damage and hard living, nicotine can add years to your appearance. According to Dr. Nicholas Perricone, dermatologist and author of The Perricone Prescription (HarperCollins), the effects of smoking in terms of ageing are significant. When we inhale just one puff of cigarette smoke, more than a trillion free radicals are produced in our lungs, which then trigger an inflammatory response that circulates throughout the body. And if that wasn't enough to persuade you to kick the habit, in 1985 the term 'smoker's face' was added to the medical dictionary. The characteristics of a smoker's face, which tends to make people look older than they are, was defined as the following:

Lines or wrinkles on the face, particularly radiating at right angles from the upper and lower lips or corners of the eyes, deep lines on the cheeks or numerous shallow lines on the cheeks and lower jaw.

A subtle gauntness of the features, with prominence of the underlying bony contours.

A grey skin pallour.

Cut it out!
Take action against lines and wrinkles with antioxidants, which fight the free-radicals that are causing your skin to age prematurely; try Farmacia Antioxidants, £21.95 . According to Christian Dior, the first signs of ageing are not always liked to age - 75 per cent are caused by other factors, including smoking.