I saw a tv programme, many years ago, and they showed twin women, aged in late 40's or early 50's. One smoked and the other didn't. The smoker had lots of fine wrinkles all over her face and the non-smoker didn't - her skin was smooth and fine. There may have been other causes, but as I recall, the programme stated that in almost every other respect their health and lifestyle was almost the same.

Ever since I have observed women who smoke a lot and noticed that more often than not they have those fine wrinkles, and I have especially noticed them around the mouth - lots of little vertical lines.

Women who have spent a lot of time in the sun, i.e. sun tanning, seem to be affected worse, in my unscientific, although reasonably long term observations.

Helen (in beachside Newcastle, Oz, where sun tanning used to be the norm until a decade or so ago when the government started sun exposure awareness campaigns)