Quit Smoking, Bad skin since

BO-JANGLES

I quit smoking 2 months ago and for once found it easy to stay off them but recently my skin is breaking out with spots everywhere. I never had spots before and now I look like a gremlin in a bath.

Is this normal when of the smokes?

BoobeR

I've never heard of anything like this before.. But a lot of people substitute smoking with something else when they quit, and also eat a lot more, It's possible you're allergic to something or are you eating a lot of junk food since you've stopped?

dazberry

I developed a couple of side effects from quitting primarily due to the change in lifestyle as opposed to changing substitutes as BoobeR mentioned.

Its difficult to explain but essentially I was a smoking procrastinator - I'd put things off for that 6/7 minutes while I had a cigarette. I didn't get manic when I quit - just that I think going from wasting time to not wasting time (when there should have been a medium) threw my body out of sorts for a bit. For example I would have smoked 2 cigarettes before leaving the house in the mornings, that's 10-14 minutes I would have been "relaxing". What I do now is try and spent say five minutes just playing guitar scales or reading a book - just something to ease the pace...

Prior to quitting - I'd actually figured I could have got away with just one ciggy a day - and that would have been an early morning one - the problem was that I knew to smoke that morning one - I'd have to have another 19 around that - so - well I knew I had a problem.

... and just as an aside - I'm nearly 2 years quit - and I actually find it strange associating myself with smoking now.

D.

I_and_I

Sounds like concidence to me, but I can just imagine tobacco company's getting a hold of this and starting a new add campaign. SMOKE LOTS!!NO SPOTS!!

Backtoblack

I wouldn't say they are related to be honest.. try to drink lots of water anyway.. always good for your skin!
An antibacterial cream, even from the chemist not prescribed, might help too.
Don't let it put you off giving up now!!!
I gave up nearly 2 years ago.. THE BEST THING I EVER DID!!
So so worth it!!! Keep up the good work!!

youcancallmeal

Hmmm I would of thought that the skin would clear up more rather than get worse?

Terry

BO-JANGLES wrote:

I quit smoking 2 months ago and for once found it easy to stay off them but recently my skin is breaking out with spots everywhere. I never had spots before and now I look like a gremlin in a bath.

Is this normal when of the smokes?

I doubt this is related to cigarettes, but it could be, as pointed out above, due to a change in lifestyle.
See a doctor. It's better to be safe than sorry.

popppy

I am off cigi's 4 weeks now, not finding it hard to be honest but just wishing all the positives of quiting would show themselves !!!! My skin also is worse than it ever has been....... my theory is I'm expelling the nasty toxins but perhaps wishful thinking !! my purse feels no heavier !! My gums are kinda swollen and bleeding a little......I could go on (lol) But I am soooooooo glad to be a non-smoker having said all this, just hoping things look up soon

Terry

Just keep off them.
Again, could be down to a change in lifestyle and you are better off seeing a doctor if you are worried.
I'd have a dentist check those gums too.
You might get an answer here about your gums, but will most likely be told to see a dentist.

Also, seeing as you are a woman (judging by the nam and purse remark), your purse is propably no heavier because you have been spending the extra money on shoes.

/runs away and hides.

popppy

LOL terry !!! Ya cheeky thing, just aswell you ran off or I would have beaten you with my purse !!!
4 weeks and 3 days free

spurious

Always worth having a doctor check you out, including bloods, once you've been off the smokes for a couple of months.

Smoking is a real nasty and can hide underlying symptoms of minor complaints. Always worth getting a clean bill - and the doctor will be so pleased with you.

Puddles

BO-JANGLES wrote:

I quit smoking 2 months ago and for once found it easy to stay off them but recently my skin is breaking out with spots everywhere. I never had spots before and now I look like a gremlin in a bath.

Is this normal when of the smokes?

This is my fourth time giving up cigs in 8 years. I'm off them 6 weeks now and my skin always breaks out in spots and general irritaton. Me and my other half have put this down to de-toxing. It normally lasts a couple of weeks and then your skin should be better than ever.:D

steveland?

Happened to me when I quit (incidentally back on them but back half way through my Allen Carr book and have one very very final cigarette left) where I got a whole bunch of spots. I usually have a couple, not very noticable spots and they usually crop up if I'd had a pizza or had a few pints the night before but when I went off the smokes a good few popped up.

I hadn't really changed anything lifestyle-wise other than trying to get into shape (not actually doing a whole lot though) and, since I'd read the Allen Carr book which tells you that you don't need to change anything and not to substitute with food, I didn't change anything I ate.

About two and a half weeks into "quitting" my skin returned to its usual vibrant self (heh) and was clearer than before. I know you say you're off them two months but it's obviously going to be different for each person.

So just stick with it, if you feel the need go to a doctor or a dermatologist. With time your body will readjust and will get used to its natural state of not being poisoned every 45 minutes and dispose of all the ganky toxins streaming around your blood system.

Don't be tempted to go back on them to clear up your skin! There's creams, washes, antibiotics (if your doctor feels they're necessary) to combat bad skin and spots but there's not very much to combat a whole load of poison coarsing through your system...

BO-JANGLES

Thanks everybody for taking the time to reply and advise. Well I am still of the smokes and its the best thing I ever did. The skin did clear up eventually after drinking plenty of water and cutting the junk from my diet. My only regret is I didn't quit 20 years ago (started 1986). So if anybody is thinking of quitting go for it. Its like a new lease of life and the extra money is a bonus. So once again thanks for the advice...Bo-jangles:)

Daithio

My skin has never been particularly bad or particularly great, but when I quit smoking, about 2 weeks later, I broke out in a rash of spots and I looked like I had some horrible disease. It lasted for about a week and then my skin cleared up completely and it was clearer than it ever had been. I'm not certain it was related but there wasn't anything else I could link it to, maybe some sort of withdrawal symptom, I'm sure it will pass with you. Good luck.