http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/skin.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://jrheum.org/content/early/2009/10/29/jrheum.090403.abstract http://tobacco.org/news/292160.html Conclusion Current cigarette smoking may be associated with cutaneous damage and active lupus rash in SLE, suggesting another reason to emphasize smoking cessation in patients with SLE. Journal of Rheumatology sasha.bernatsky@mail.mcgill.ca (Irina Turchin, Sasha Bernatsky, Ann E. Clarke, Yvan St-Pierre and Christian A. Pineau) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091102172449.htm http://tobacco.org/news/292159.html a team of researchers at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) have just found another. A study led by Dr. Christian A Pineau, Co-Director of the Lupus and Vasculitis clinic at the MUHC, has clearly linked skin damage and rashes to smoking in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study was published in a recent issue of the Journal of Rheumatology. SLE is a long-term autoimmune disorder affecting about one in every 2000 people. About 90 per cent of SLE patients are women, many of them young. Symptoms are caused by an overactive immune system, and the disease can cause inflammation and damage in almost any organ system, including the skin. "Up to 85 per cent of people with SLE develop skin involvement at some point," explains Dr. Pineau. "Our study shows that the risk of skin damage such as permanent hair loss and scarring from skin inflammation is significantly increased in smokers. So is the rate of active lupus rash." While there is no cure for SLE, symptoms can be treated with drugs. "However, smoking may interfere with the effectiveness of some medications used to control skin disease in SLE," says Dr. Sasha Bernatsky, study co-author and physician in the MUHC's Rheumatology Division. "This may be part of the reason why smoking heightens skin damage in SLE. ScienceDaily Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1012840/1/.html http://tobacco.org/news/291554.html The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has launched a new initiative which it hopes will arrest the rising trend of young women picking up smoking in Singapore. A 2007 national survey found that nearly 10 per cent of female respondents aged between 18 and 29 smoked daily, up from 4 per cent in 2001. The most common reasons cited by these women include stress relief and relaxation. HPB's latest anti-smoking initiative aims to show that with prolonged smoking, a person's appearance will suffer from sunken cheeks and premature ageing. The authority claims that the use of graphic images in its campaign to deter women from smoking is not meant to be a "scare tactic". JoAnn Taylor, deputy director of Substance Abuse Department, HPB, said: "It's really appealing to women's essential needs. It's about looking good for their partner, for their friends or even for themselves. So it really appeals to women's idea of beauty." . . . Fresh Air for Women Programme's ambassador, Vanessa Fernandez, spoke on Wednesday about the benefits she experienced when she quit the habit four months ago, after smoking for 14 years. Channel NewsAsia Singapore Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20091022-175112.html http://tobacco.org/news/291544.html LADIES, think twice before you take a puff of that cigarette - smoking can add up to 20 years to your appearance in the form of freckles, crow's feet and deepened lines and wrinkles. That is a warning the Health Promotion Board (HPB) hopes will resonate with beauty-conscious women, to deter them from picking up the habit and to encourage those who are already smoking to quit. Yesterday, it launched its latest anti-smoking initiative - a faux cosmetic brand called ASH, that promises to give you "looks to die for" - at a roadshow in VivoCity. Designed to look like an actual line of cosmetic products, ASH consists of a lipstick, foundation, loose powder, eyeshadow and nail polish - all made of real cigarette ash to further drive home the point. At its beauty counter, promoters talk to "customers" about the effects of smoking on beauty. AsiaOne vbarker@sph.com.sg (Victoria Barker) Singapore Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://abcnews.go.com/Health/studying-twins-learn-aging/story?id=8664904 http://tobacco.org/news/290253.html Identical twins -- they come from around the country once a year to attend a festival of twins in Twinsburg, Ohio, just outside Cleveland. For researchers, especially those studying how people age, having access to so many pairs of these genetic carbon copies is a scientific bonanza. "We can compare the twins that have different social behaviors ... and see how those factors make a difference in their appearance," said Dr. Bahman Guyuron of University Hospital, Case Medical Center. Guyuron is the author of the study comparing 186 pairs of twins. Many times there is a glaring difference reflected in the photos of twins. When comparing a pair of twin sisters, one who smokes and one who doesn't, for instance, the smoker has tiny, telltale vertical lines around her lips and longer, deeper wrinkles around her eyes. "That's because smoking shrinks tiny blood vessels in the face so the skin is not being nourished," said Dr. Darrick Antell of St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital and the author of one of the first twin studies. "Smoking dehydrates the skin so it's much drier." ABC News Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE58C1FN20090913 http://tobacco.org/news/289591.html Belgian researchers studying the effect of nicotine in mice found that it activates a molecular pathway in membranes in the skin, nose and mouth known to play a role in inflammation. This may explain why nicotine patches and other nicotine replacement therapies can make people itch, they said in a study published in Nature, and could help in developing treatments to help people quit smoking with fewer irritating side effects. . . . Until now, scientists had thought that irritation from nicotine patches and other nicotine treatments came from stimulation of nerve receptors that convey painful stimuli from the skin and the linings of the nose and mouth. But Karel Talavera of the Leuven Catholic University in Belgium found that in mice, nicotine also directly activates TRPA1, a pathway or channel in cells known to convey information about irritating substances and inflammatory pain. They also found that mice lacking TRPA1 showed no irritation when nicotine was put into their noses. "The identification of TRPA1 as a nicotine target ... may facilitate the development of smoking cessation therapies with less adverse effects," the researchers wrote. Reuters Belgium Sun, 13 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://dermatologytimes.modernmedicine.com/dermatologytimes/Acne/Smoke-and-mirrors-Study-shows-relationship-between/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/599853?contextCategoryId=1894 http://tobacco.org/news/284960.html Semnan, Iran — A recent study indicates that there is a significant association between cigarette smoking and the development and severity of acne lesions. According to one expert, acne patients who withdraw from cigarette smoking can improve their acne condition. Whether smoking induces acne remains controversial. However, an increasing number of studies are concluding that cigarette smoking causes a new disease entity called "smoker’s acne." "It is known that cigarette smoking increases the levels of carbon monoxide within the body, which in turn stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce excessive amounts of sebum. "This increased production of sebum will inevitably clog the hair follicles, which in turn will cause the erythematous papular and nodular lesions commonly seen in acne patients. "This increased and continual production of sebum will likely lead to a worsening of the acne condition," says Mohammad Nassaji-Zavareh, M.D., of the department of infectious diseases, Fatemieh Hospital, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. ModernMedicine.com mhrehocik@advanstar.com ( Ilya Petrou, M.D Dermatology Times) Iran Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.virtualmedicalcentre.com/healthandlifestyle.asp?sid=205 http://tobacco.org/news/284776.html In many cases, these changes to skin are not life threatening, though they can change the physical appearance of the smoker. For example, smoking is associated with premature ageing and wrinkles. Smoking is also associated with very serious skin conditions, including squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (a type of skin cancer) and psoriasis. Awareness of the changes to physical appearance and the serious skin conditions associated with smoking may help motivate individuals to quit smoking. How smoking affects the skin The precise ways in which tobacco smoke damages or changes skin are not fully understood, though scientific studies have produced evidence about a number of possible ways. Studies suggest that tobacco smoke exposure decreases capillary and arteriolar blood flow, possibly damaging connective tissues that help maintain healthy skin. Skin fibroblasts (the cells in connective tissue that form collagen and elastin) are damaged by tobacco smoke. Virtual Medical Centre Tue, 26 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/health/research/19patt.html?scp=2&sq=smoking&st=nyt http://tobacco.org/news/284144.html Smokers with darker skin may be more affected by nicotine than lighter-skinned ones are, a new study finds. Researchers said it was possible that the nicotine in tobacco bound to melanin, which gives skin its color. The darker the skin, the greater the amount of melanin -- and perhaps the more nicotine is stored. The researchers, whose study appears in Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, noted the small number of people used in the study and said the findings should be considered preliminary. But the research may shed light into why some people appear more affected by nicotine than others. New York Times Tue, 19 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090508134951.htm http://tobacco.org/news/283854.html Higher concentrations of melanin -- the color pigment in skin and hair -- may be placing darker pigmented smokers at increased susceptibility to nicotine dependence and tobacco-related carcinogens than lighter skinned smokers, according to scientists. "We have found that the concentration of melanin is directly related to the number of cigarettes smoked daily, levels of nicotine dependence, and nicotine exposure among African Americans," said Gary King, professor of biobehavioral health, Penn State. ScienceDaily Sun, 10 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T0N-4VS4020-1&_user=10&_coverDate=06%2F30%2F2009&_rdoc=6&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%234867%232009%23999079995%231024259%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=4867&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=20&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=d69ea33ab7849252b38187cb539807e2 http://tobacco.org/news/283639.html Nicotine's affinity for melanin-containing tissues may result from its precursor function in melanin synthesis or the irreversible binding of melanin and nicotine. The objective of this study was to investigate a hypothesized association of tobacco use, dependence, and nicotine exposure with melanin pigmentation among African American smokers. . . . The results of this analysis support the hypothesis of a positive association between melanin levels and tobacco use, dependence, and exposure among African American smokers. This analysis may have important implications for research and interventions on tobacco dependence and disease outcomes. Further research on melanin and nicotine among African Americans as well as other population groups is warranted. Science Direct gxk14@psu.edu Mon, 11 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-05/ps-scc050809.php http://tobacco.org/news/283530.html d hair -- may be placing darker pigmented smokers at increased susceptibility to nicotine dependence and tobacco-related carcinogens than lighter skinned smokers, according to scientists. "We have found that the concentration of melanin is directly related to the number of cigarettes smoked daily, levels of nicotine dependence, and nicotine exposure among African Americans," said Gary King, professor of biobehavioral health, Penn State. King states that previous research shows that nicotine has a biochemical affinity for melanin. Conceivably, this association could result in an accumulation of the addictive agent in melanin-containing tissues of smokers with greater amounts of skin pigmentation. "The point of the study is that, if in fact, nicotine does bind to melanin, populations with high levels of melanin could indicate certain types of smoking behavior, dependence, and health outcomes that will be different from those in less pigmented populations," explained King. "And the addiction process may very well be longer and more severe." The team's findings appear in the June issue of the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior. EurekAlert axa47@psu.edu Fri, 08 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122369985/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 http://tobacco.org/news/283138.html Background Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a long-standing disease with abscess and often fistula formation, predominantly in the axillae and groins. The disease is difficult to treat and has a severe impact on quality of life. A clinically relevant system for scoring disease severity is lacking in HS. Objectives To evaluate the modified Hidradenitis Suppurativa Score (HSS) and to study the impact of body mass index (BMI) and smoking habits on disease severity. . . . Conclusions The modified HSS is simple and practical and it extracts important clinical information. A connection between disease severity and BMI as well as smoking habits in patients with HS is presented. Wiley InterScience Sweden Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://search.eurekalert.org/e3/cs.html?url=http%3A//www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-03/plos-rit033009.php&charset=iso-8859-1&qt=tobacco%2C+smoking%2C+cigarettes&col=ev3rel&n=20&la=en http://tobacco.org/news/281704.html People use the color of your skin to judge how healthy you are, according to researchers at the University of St Andrews. The findings are published April 1 in the online, open-access, peer-reviewed journal PLoS ONE. Scientists in the School of Psychology have shown that there is truth to the received wisdom that a "rosy" complexion denotes healthiness, whilst a "green" or "pale" color indicates illness. Lead researcher Ian Stephen worked with the University's Perception Lab to determine how face color is associated with healthy looks. . . . "Our skin contains many tiny blood vessels that carry blood laden with oxygen to the skin cells, allowing them to "breathe", and allowing us to lose heat during exercise. People who are physically fit or have higher levels of sex hormones have more of these blood vessels and flush easier than people who are unhealthy, unfit, elderly or smokers. Physically fit people also have more oxygen in their blood than people who are unfit or have heart or lung illnesses." . . . "Since your attractiveness relies upon how healthy you look, you might be able to make yourself more attractive by being kind to your heart and lungs in doing more exercise or quitting smoking," concluded Ian Stephen. EurekAlert press@plos.org ( Press release from PLoS ONE) Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/136685.php http://tobacco.org/news/277775.html Young smokers say concern about the effects of smoking on their appearance is a good reason to quit smoking, but not until they see visible changes to their appearance. This is the finding of a study by Professor Sarah Grogan of the University of Staffordshire and colleagues Gary Fry, Brendan Gough and Mark Conner, published today (26th January 2009) in the British Journal of Health Psychology. 87 smokers and non-smokers aged 17-24 took part in the study, based on focus groups. The smokers discussed how smoking impacted negatively on physical appearance (skin, teeth, hair, and weight), and how they made sense of their smoking. The non-smokers also discussed a potential link between appearance and smoking, together with any appearance-related concerns that would discourage them from taking up the habit. Male and female smokers were concerned about the impact of smoking on their appearance, but would quit only if skin ageing, wrinkling or other negative effects on appearance became noticeable. The young people did not consider themselves at immediate risk of such effects as they were thought to occur in older smokers only. Non-smokers expressed concern about the impact on skin and teeth if they started smoking. Medical News TODAY UK Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT