Adverse effects of cigarette smoking on the skin

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hi, I am a 50 yr old woman, but why is it that I bruise so easily, I can bump my arm and up pops a bruise, I also have noticed that I am scarring more. I take my daily vitamin, low exercise. I try and eat at least 2 good meals a day. My weight is 125 and I am 5'0". Unfortantly I am a smoker, 1 pack a day. Is all of this just part of the gray hair and getting older?

Dear Rebecca: Cigarette smoking causes constriction of the blood vessels to the skin and as a result may delay wound healing, cause wrinkling and premature aging of the skin. Smoking can also damage the walls of blood vessels, which may reduce the elastic properties of these vessels, resulting in stiffening and trauma to the vessel wall. This could explain your susceptibility to bruising on minimal trauma. I would recommend attending your family doctor for a full blood count to check your Haemoglobin and platelet level and advice on smoking cessation.