My observations lead me to conclude that Non-Smokers are invariably
more gorgeous than Smokers.

Are there any scientific studies to support my observations?

Thanks Bryan, 

Glad I could help!

In addition to what I gave you below, here are a couple of other
references ---

"A new study from the Twin Research Unit at the London Hospital
involved 50 pairs of identical twins where one smoked and the other
didn't. The study found that the skin of the smoking twin was on
average a quarter thinner than the twin who didn't. Wrinkles occur as
the skin thins. Identical twins, would age and wrinkle at the same
rate unless affected by external factors…."

NON SMOKERS UPDATE – 1997
http://www.nsma.org.au/update16.htm



"Smoker’s Face" was defined as one or more of the following:
lines or wrinkles on the face, typically radiating at right angles
from the upper and lower lips or corners of the eyes, deep lines on
the cheeks, or numerous shallow lines on the cheeks and lower jaw."

WHAT IS SMOKER'S FACE?
http://www.stopsmokingsupport.com/smokersface.htm



And finally, in addition to "smoker's face," there may be a
psychological reason that smokers "appear" less attractive to
nonsmokers:

"Research has shown that nonsmokers tend to attribute negative
characteristics to smokers.  Nonsmokers perceive smokers less
favorably than other nonsmokers on a number of characteristics,
including intelligence, sophistication, consideration, health, and
maturity (Gibson, 1997)."

COLLEGE STUDENTS’ DIFFERENTIAL PERCEPTIONS OF UNDERGRADUATES WHO SMOKE
CIGARETTES AND THOSE WHO DON’T SMOKE CIGARETTES
http://academic.uofs.edu/organization/psychcon/16th/abstracts.html


Thanks for your question, 

-K~ 

search terms:

twin smokers faces
twins smoking nonsmoking aging

Great answer.

Many thanks!

Thanks also to everyone who has commented.

Bryan --

Beyond odors and yellowing of teeth and skin, there are quantifiable
differences in skin appearance:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12648216&dopt=Abstract

Google search strategy:
smoking + aging

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

Scroll down to Presentation 2, which indicates no correlation between
smoking and physical attractiveness:
http://fisher.osu.edu/marketing/scp/apa2001.htm

On the other hand, here's a reference to a 1992 study (which I
couldn't find) that indicates there is a positive correlation between
nonsmoking and physical attractiveness:
http://alegent.iqhealth.com/atoz/lifestyles/SmokeOut/sexy.htm

How Smoking Affects Appearance

March 23, 2001 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It is well known that long-term
smokers usually look older than do non-smokers of the same age.
However, until now, the cause for the effect on the skin has been
elusive.
 
Both smoking and UV radiation like that from the sun cause the protein
called MMP-1, or matrix metalloproteinase-1, to be produced in high
quantities under the skin's surface. MMP-1 unstabilizes collagen,
which accounts for 70 percent of the skin's weight and maintains its
healthy appearance. In healthy skin, a combination of a gene and MMP-1
inhibitors remove the excess MMP-1 before it can do harm. However, in
smokers, there is too much MMP-1 produced and not enough of the
natural counteractive proteins and genes.
 
In a study reported in this week's Lancet, 14 smokers and 19
non-smokers exposed the skin on their buttocks to solar-like UV light
to mimic the effects of tobacco smoke inhalation. Genetic analysis
allowed the researchers to measure how much MMP-1, MMP-1 inhibitor and
the gene, was present in the UV-exposed skin before and after.
 
The results show that while MMP-1, the collagen-destroying protein was
created in excess quantities, the counteracting genes and proteins
remained at the same levels, neither increasing nor decreasing.
 
Researchers believe a combination of sunlight and tobacco's effect on
MMP-1 production speeds up the collagen breakdown, resulting in the
aged appearance of long-term smokers.
 
Copyright © 2001 Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc.

From (http://www.jhbmc.jhu.edu/healthcarenews/01032301.html)

Wow, Kik!

Fascinating stuff.

Many thanks.

(If you were a Researcher, I would have asked you to post your Comment
as an Answer.)

Hey PB,

I remember seeing an article years ago that showed a pair of mid-aged
twin women, one a lifelong smoker and one not. The difference was
incredible. The smoker could have passed for the other one's mother!

In a quick search I couldn't find that particular image, but did find
this reference --

"In one set of twins, the sibling with a 40-year history of smoking
had approximately 50% more gray hair than his nonsmoking twin. Other
than smoking history, the two had "virtually identical" lifestyles."

http://www.coachsos.com/genetic.html

Here's the source article:

How environment and lifestyle choices influence the aging process
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10597816&dopt=Abstract

This twin has been "faked" using makeup, but give you an idea of the
effects of smoking on the face --

Women unaware of smoking risks
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1566191.stm

-K~

Hi, Knowledge Seeker

You have again confirmed what everyone has always known ...

Brilliant!

Why not post as an answer?

Regards

Bryan

Cigarette smoke produces harmful free radicals. Free radical damage is
what is thought to be a major cause of aging and destruction of the
skin/tissues. Other sources of free radicals- sun, smog, alcohol. Free
radicals are atoms with unpaired electron groups that basically will
latch onto anything they can to balance their unbalanced charge. Free
radicals latch onto healthy cells and tissues and complex slowly
destroying the cell's dna or membrane. I have always thought of this
process much like oxidation/reduction reactions. Think of a car
becoming oxidized. Essentially the same thing is occuring with your
skin. Since cigarrette smokers are more exposed to the damage causers
(free rads) often times their skin shows earlier signs of aging and no
longer has that radiant glow. There are ways to combat free radical
damage. 1) SUNSCREEN!!! 2) antixoxidant vitamin regimine your
antioxidants are vitamin A, E, C, and the mineral Selenium. 3)
Hydration

Hi, EmptyCageGirl

A very interesting Comment.

Many thanks.

Bryan

I don't know about looks but take a look at their lungs:

http://www.aklung.org/Images/GoodLungBadLung.gif (smoker's lung is on right)

I mean smoker's lung is on the left, duh!

Wow, Bowler ...

You still continue to amaze me.

Many thanks.

Bryan

BTW Probonopublico,

Just picked up a copy of "Approaching Zero" at the library. 

Enjoying it so far!

Bowler-ga

Hi, Bowler

A library book?

Surely, you would like your own copy?

It's supposed to be 'unputdownable' so how come you've put it down?

It just gets better and better.

One of the best books that I've ever read.

Kindest regards

Bryan