Smoking and skin disease (part 3)
Vasculitis
Smoking can trigger or aggravate the Raynaud phenomenon that causes spasm or obstruction of the blood vessels. The skin changes from white to pale gray and finally red as warmed up. The arteries that supply blood to the fingers and toes may be temporarily cramped, followed by permanent narrowing due to exposure to nicotine in cigarettes, causing ulcers in the tips of the fingers and toes. Cold temperatures, nicotine and caffeine all cause the Raynaud phenomenon. Smokes also make the clot easier to develop, causing the kidney to constrict. Symptoms of "chilblain" are also due to vasoconstriction and can be more serious numbness when smoking.
Smoking also has a major role in Buerger's disease, with the occurrence of many blood clots in small blood vessels as well as in many cases of cholesterol-related embolism with atherosclerosis. Smoking can aggravate the tendency for blood clots to develop due to medication or antiphospholipid syndrome.
Lupus erythematosus
Studies in recent years have shown that smokers are 10 times more likely to develop dementia than non-smokers. In this autoimmune disease, exposed areas of the skin, such as the face, develop scaly red lesions that may leave scars. Smoking increases the risk of lupus due to increased autoimmune activity by activating B and T lymphocytes. Lupus treatment with hydroxychloroquine is very effective in smokers.