Smoking, being heavier and skin cancer are associated with skin aging

A new report based on a study of twins in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, reveals that smoking, weight, not using sunscreen and having had skin cancer appear to be associated with sun damage and aging of skin on the face

According to background information in the article, long-term exposure to the sun causes physical and structural changes to the skin, resulting in photodamage.  Unlike typical skin aging, which is characterized by the development of fine wrinkles and skin growths, photodamage includes characteristics such as coarsely wrinkled skin, spots of extra pigment or lost pigment and dilated blood vessels on the face. Sun damage also has been associated with the development of cancerous growths. Up to 40 percent of aging-related changes are due to non-genetic factors.