Fact: Cigarette smoke has been shown to reduce blood vessel flow and to weaken and disrupt the formation of collagen, allowing for the connective tissue to become stretched and damaged more easily and for underlying fat to show through. Plus, smoking can make you look bad (literally) in lots of other ways, as well: It causes premature wrinkles and aging, leaves your skin dry and discoloured and can contribute to stretch marks, to name a few.

Does Smoking Cause Cellulite?

No, smoking does not cause cellulite. If you don’t have cellulite and you suddenly start smoking, cellulite will not appear. However, smoking will aggravate cellulite once the orange peel first develops. It is estimated that 90% of women have cellulite, so the bottom line is don’t smoke because it will make your cellulite worse (plus give you bad skin, lung cancer, heart disease etc).

Can smoking affect the appearance of cellulite?

Smoking causes collagen in your body to break down. Collagen is a major structural component of the skin. It keeps the skin firm and structured. Therefore decreased amounts of collagen will weaken the dermis of the skin allowing fat cells to protrude to the surface giving the cellulite appearance. As we age the body produces less collagen giving the consequence of saggy skin, wrinkles and more obvious cellulite. Smoking speeds up this process and is extremely damaging to every cell and tissue in the body.

Smoking also decreases your levels of hyaluronic acid. It is present naturally in the skin. Hyaluronic acid retains moisture and keeps the skin plump. Skin hydration is essential for the health and maintenance of the skin.

As well as being present in the skin collagen and hyaluronic acid are important components of blood and lymph vessels. Smoking will cause gradual damage to these vessels causing inflammation and leakage. Leakage from blood and lymph vessels results in water retention, a big cause of cellulite. Also, damaged vessels causes a decreased lymph and blood flow. The small blood vessels near to the surface of the skin are especially delicate and cause inadequate micro-circulation.

Nicotine

Nicotine found in cigarette smoke will also make cellulite worse. It is a vasoconstrictor, causing blood vessels to constrict and restrict blood flow to the skin. Oxygen and nutrients will not reach the skin reducing the overall health of the skin and its ability to repair itself. Free radicals found in cigarette smoke are very damaging. They attack the walls of blood vessels causing damage. Fat cells store these toxins away from our vital organs.

For more information on cellulite and how it develops visit our cellulite page.  Looking for that one answer  to cure cellulite for good? Bellabaci International has helped thousands of women say goodbye to cellulite. We have the answer to your prayers, find out more here.

Happy Cupping!