Smoking Impacts Your Hygiene Here Are 3 Alternatives That Can Help

Smoking is a widespread phenomenon. There are nearly 30.8 million smokers in the US alone. Even though this number has been steadily declining since 2005, it’s clear that smoking as a whole is not going away anytime soon. You may even be part of this population yourself.

If so, you may already know about the various ways in which it can negatively impact your health. But did you know that smoking can impact your hygiene, too? We discuss how exactly it does so — and list some smoke- and tobacco-free alternatives that can help you mitigate these effects.

If you’re conscious about your complexion, smoking definitely won’t help. The 2009 Dermato-Endocrinology study “Acne and Smoking” reveals that smoking can make you more prone to severe acne. This phenomenon is also known as “smoker’s acne.” Since the compounds in cigarettes also work to repress your immune system, it can slow down the healing of any acne blemishes, as well.

As you may know from experience, the smell of cigarette smoke stays in your hair. This can cause it to have an unpleasant smell. The 2021 paper “The Effects of Smoking on Hair Health,” which as published in the scientific journal Skin Appendage Disorders, goes even further. It finds that cigarette compounds can accumulate in your scalp and hair follicles. This can cause hair loss and ultimately increase your risk of developing conditions like alopecia.

Our article ‘Effect of Smoking on Teeth’ dives deep into the myriad effects smoking has on oral hygiene. This includes bad breath, discolored teeth, inflamed salivary glands, and increased plaque and tartar buildup. Smoking can also increase your risk of developing medical conditions like leukoplakia (white patches in the mouth), gum disease — and, in the worst-case scenario, oral cancer. Again, the fact that smoking slows down healing can also prolong the recovery process after dental procedures like tooth extractions.

Smoke-free tobacco alternatives like chewing tobacco won’t help because they have the same impact on oral hygiene that smoking does. They also induce saliva production, making you spit more often. Nicotine pouches — which can fit snugly between your gum and upper lip — have no irritating compounds and don’t cause you to spit. They are also good for every type of smoker. Nicotine pouch provider Prilla’s bestsellers come in different strengths, 2mg to 15mg to suit light to heavy smokers accordingly. Each pouch can be used for up to an hour.

Smoking involves lots of oral activity, which you may crave when you’re not holding a cigarette. This is what makes nicotine lozenges and gum great alternatives: they provide you with other means to enact that oral activity. These nicotine-infused candies last up to half an hour without using chemicals that harm your hygiene and overall health. Nicorette is the most popular brand that offers both nicotine lozenges and gum.

Insider explains that nicotine patches deliver nicotine through the skin steadily over the course of 24 hours. In doing so, this sticker does not create any odors or release irritating compounds into your body. It does not leave a sticky residue on your skin after removal, either. However, it may take a few hours for it to take effect — so you may want to use it in combination with one of the above products.

Smoking can be detrimental to both your health and your hygiene. By informing yourself of its impact and taking steps to eliminate it, you can take care of yourself in more ways than one.