Cancer Society of Finland: Tobacco Body
The Tobacco Body website takes an interactive look at smoking and nicotine on the body.
A Finnish organization has come up with a way to show the harmful effects of tobacco that might make you think twice about lighting up.
“Tobacco Body,” created by the Cancer Society of Finland, takes a full-body look at what long-term smoking does to a variety of body parts and functions in both men and women.
Cancer Society of Finland: Tobacco Body
The online PSA compares a smoker’s skin to a non-smoker’s through illustration.
Aside from raising the risk of lung cancer, many of the effects the site mentions are cosmetic.
For example, smokers are more likely to get acne because of poorer blood circulation in the skin, according to the site. (Some scientific studies, such as this one, dispute this claim, though researchers note smoking is far from being considered an acne cure.)
Cancer Society of Finland: Tobacco Body
On the Tobacco Body website, a smoker’s lung (l.) is depicted next to a healthy lung.
Smokers tend to develop yellowed nails and teeth from nicotine staining, and are at risk for premature wrinkles. Long-term smoking speeds up the aging process of skin, and not just on your face, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The news isn’t good for reproductive health, either. Smoking lowers sperm density in men, and can harm unborn fetuses in pregnant women. It can also contribute to a drop in sex drive and to erectile dysfunction.
Cancer Society of Finland: Tobacco Body
Men and women are more likely to get stomach ulcers if they smoke, the site says.
And though many people say cigarettes help them relax, smoking is bad for your overall stress levels, the site says. A 2010 study found that people who quit smoking experienced a drop in perceived stress after one year compared to people who kept smoking.
Click over to the site to read more.
tmiller@nydailynews.com