Facial effects of smoking may be enough to motivate women to quit

By Staff Writer

If the risk of health consequences isn't enough for women who smoke to seek some kind substance abuse help, the effects the habit has on their face may be.

A team of researchers from the University of Staffordshire in the UK used computer modeling to show female smokers what their faces may look like as they age if they continue to smoke. This was then compared to a model of what the participants' faces would like if they quit.

The researchers reported in the British Journal of Health Psychology that more than two thirds of the women in the study said that the images were enough to convince them that they needed to quit.

The team plans to continue following the study participants to see if they do in fact give up smoking at a later date. However, the early results look promising. The lead author of the research said that many women experienced a physical shock and some even felt nauseous after seeing what they may look like if they continue to smoke.