[Cigarette smoking and its influence on skin aging].

Presently cigarette smoking is one of the most dangerous activities for health and human life. In tobacco smoke, nicotine and other dangerous substances have detrimental influence not only for smokers but for the "passive smokers" whom very often are children. Cigarette smoke causes unfavorable skin changes or intensifies course of many skin diseases including cancer. Tobacco smoke additionally quickens the natural process of skin aging. It has been observed that the skin of smoking addicts at the age of 40 years resembles skin of non-smoking 70 year old adults. Skin damage due to tobacco smoke is irreversible, where further damage can be avoided by stopping smoking. Present trends try to find ways to stop or at least delay changes caused by aging. Perhaps maybe it's first signs- wrinkles- more than the deadly consequences of smoking will be the most motivating reason for smokers to "kick the habit".