Have you ever wondered how smoking, sun exposure, and even major life events like divorce can change our appearance? In a recent study, scientists wanted to understand the harmful effects of these factors in a particularly illustrative and understandable way.
Specifically, researchers examined 186 pairs of fraternal twins to determine how time has affected their appearance. A professional photographer took standardized, close-up photos of each twin's face, and the participants filled out questionnaires about their medical history and lifestyle.
Then, plastic surgeons, without knowing the twins' history, analyzed facial features, including wrinkles and facial features.
Among the cases identified, the most striking differences were found in 27-year-old twins Dina and Gina. While Gina weighed 50 kilograms more than her twin sister when they were photographed, the researchers noted that she clearly looked larger.
Additionally, the researchers looked at how status can affect our physical appearance. They found that divorced women appeared older than their married or single peers.
A typical example is the twins Janet and Jean: Jean looks older than her sister, who is still married. She has darker eye circles and pronounced expression lines.
According to Dr. Bahman Guyuron, a plastic surgeon in Cleveland, Ohio, and the study's lead author, this is likely due to the fact that Jean was divorced after 27 years of marriage, unlike her sister who has been married for about thirty years. years. He noted that relationship problems can have an impact on appearance, with chronic stress damaging DNA and causing inflammation.
On the other hand, the case of Brenda and Barb is indicative of skin damage. When the two sisters participated in the study, plastic surgeons estimated that Brenda could be up to 6.25 years older than her sister. This is due to her smoking habit – specifically half a pack a day for 14 years – but also exposure to the sun for 14 hours a week and a lower body mass index.
In the case of 61-year-old Susan, 10 hours more sun exposure compared to her twin sister, Jeanne, is obvious, but it is also a consequence of her smoking habit. As a result, she was estimated to look 11.25 years older, because she had significantly more age spots and more pronounced wrinkles.
Smoking reduces oxygen to the skin, which also reduces blood circulation, leading to dull skin and wrinkles, Dr. Guyuron explained. Overall, the study found that people who smoked for longer periods had significantly more “bags” under their eyes and more pronounced expression lines.
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