Adult women over 40 who currently smoke are 3.1 times more likely to develop moderate to severe facial wrinkles than lifetime non-smokers, according to clinical data cited by Taiwan’s Health Promotion Administration (HPA).
The study evaluated facial wrinkles in adults aged 40 to 69 using blinded, standardized visual assessments. Researchers determined that smoking accelerated visible facial aging by an average of 1.4 years. Wrinkle severity corresponded directly to cumulative pack-years, showing that higher lifetime consumption causes deeper facial line development in both women and men.
In response to these findings, the HPA emphasized that visible skin damage reflects deeper physiological harm. The agency urged the public, especially adolescents and young women, to resist modern nicotine marketing tactics that use colorful designs and tech-focused styling to conceal health and aging risks.