Cigarette Smoking and Skin Biomarkers

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that smoking kills approximately 400,000 people in the United States yearly. Cigarette smoking is the nation's leading cause of premature mortality and is responsible for one-third of all deaths among working-age Americans. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of excess mortality among younger smokers. Therefore, tobacco-related cardiovascular disease has been extensively investigated. However, tobacco-related cutaneous morbidity is less investigated. Some research has been documented as to the damaging effects of smoking on the skin vasculature and on oxygenation in both human and animal models.