I had NOT expected this!!! It has been 2 weeks since I quit. It is still hard. I had expected some weight gain from quitting smoking but had not expected dull looking skin with breakouts, and just like more wrinkly skin basically. It's hard to describe but my skin definitely looks awful and I am pretty sure it's down to quitting smoking. I'm just out of the woods and no I will not start again.
I do want my skin back to normal.
Anyone know what I'm talking about with the bad skin after quitting smoking and know how to remedy it fast?
Anyone who reads my posts regularly knows I'm crunchy and natural now, but believe it or not, I smoked for 10 years. I didn't experience the side effect you mention, BEAR, after quitting, but I am not surprised that you are. Nicotine can take more than 20 days to clear from your system if you have been a heavy smoker for a while. The skin might be one way in which it does so. Do not go back, and your skin and health will thank you.
Meanwhile, if you are dealing with acne, treat it like you would any acne. Use witch hazel as a spot treatment, honey masks as a disinfectant, and yes, take vitamin supplements or up your consumption of fruit.
Rosie
Congrats on quitting!!!
Hiya!
Just wanted to come in and send you some encouragement, really. You've been off the cigs for two weeks now, and already saved a good amount of money by not smoking any more! I agree the skin trouble could be caused by a variety of stuff including toxins leaving your system and worse eating habits, so for your health and skin I'm saying invest in a lot of fruit juices, fresh ones, for the next few weeks. And get a facial!!! You deserve to spend money on your skin now you're not spending it on the old cancer sticks no more.
Keep at it and your skin will improve for real. As will everything else, your energy, your breathing, everything. Don't give up!
Everyone who is reading who recently freed themselves from nicotine and is now experiencing side effects they had not been expecting, whether the quitter's flu, nasty skin, or a smoker's cough actually getting worse than it was before, not to mention those terrible cravings, know that it is worth it in the end. You can never completely undo the damage smoking did to your body, but you decided to stop adding to it and decrease the effects.
I am three years smoke free now. Oh, I remember how hard it was to start off with! Now, I don't think about smoking nearly hardly at all but do feel the need to support other quitters when I come across them.
Your skin may look bad now. I don't know why either, but it does happen. Just keep on putting healthy foods into your body, drink LOTS of water, exercise. Keep on not smoking. Your skin will look better. I promise you that whatever side effects your quit is giving you will not be with you forever. Before you know it, if you keep it up, you will be where I am not smoking and with healthier looking skin, teeth, hair, and better smelling as well. !!!
Good luck!
I have to stop scratching my face and let it heal. I'm using retin-a for the acne and to speed up collagen production, and after I wash my face, I use aveda botanical kinetics hydrating treatment lotion and intense hydrating soft creme.
The most important and hardest thing is to not touch or scratch or pick my skin, but that's a pretty tall order. I smoked because I like to engage in compulsive behavior to relieve stress. I feel like now I have to fight to stay conscious every moment about what I'm doing with my hands.
I quit smoking years ago, using a chart like you’d do for a child. I think mine is hormonal too! concern with your doctor