The skin condition and the efectiveness of sonophoresis in smoking and non-smoking women aged 21-26. Preliminary report

Background: Nicotine has a negative infuence on the human body, but its efect is particularly noticeable on the skin. It might quicken the natural skin aging process, cause unfavorable skin changes or intensify the course of many skin or mucosa diseases including cancer. It might also inhibit wound healing processes. Furthermore, tobacco smoke damages DNA as it is the source of free radicals. Nicotine increases the degradation of collagen and elastic fbres forming the basic skin structure and causes angiogenesis, too. These processes result in forming wrinkles and losing skin frmness as well as elasticity.Aim of the study: The study aims at assessing the infuence of active tobacco smoke on skin condition factors like hydration, lubrication, faking and the infammation of epidermis in a group of young women. Material and methods: The study was carried out in a group of young women (20 with tobacco dependence and 20 never smoking) aged 21-26. An interview was performed before the study. The study of greasiness, exfoliation and skin hydration was done using the device named Nati Analizer Beauty of Science. The skin of the subjects was not washed before the test and any skin caring preparations had not been applied since the day before. For a period of fve weeks the subjects underwent the treatments with the use of sonophoresis along with the introduction of a moisturizing and sebum regulating ampoule, in order to verify the efectiveness of cosmetic treatment. After a series of treatments the test was performed again with the use of the same device. Before the study, the researchers hypothesized that active nicotine smokers will have a worse skin condition than non-smokers.Results: The interview performed did show that smokers are aware of negative efects of nicotine on their skin, so they pay more attention to daily care, and use cosmetics with a strong moisturizing action. Active nicotine smokers did not have a worse skin condition than non-smokers. Conclusions: The results received have not confrmed the hypothesis and popular beliefs that skin condition of active smokers is worse than this of none-smokers. The sonophoresis treatment had a greater impact on reducing sebum secretion in non-smokers, but they increased the degree of moisture in non-smokers.Keywords: active smoking, passive smoking, skin hydration, skin lubrication