Smoking and skin aging in identical twins.
BACKGROUND
A twin pair can provide a rare opportunity to control for genetic susceptibility and exposure variables, which often serve as major confounders in population-based studies on the relationship between smoking and skin aging.


METHODS
We describe a unique twin pair who spent not only their first 2 decades of life together but also in their later decades had the same type of job at the same latitude, resulting in well-matched levels of significant sun exposure. However, the twins differed markedly in regard to smoking history; the twin with an approximately 52.5-pack-year smoking history showed more severe skin aging than did the nonsmoking twin.


CONCLUSIONS
The difference in skin aging illustrated by this twin pair may serve as a motivator for smoking cessation.
Doshi
Daven N
DN
Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Bolwell Health Center, 11100 Euclid Ave, Ste 3100, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. doshid@gwu.edu
Hanneman
Kaija K
KK
Cooper
Kevin D
KD
D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000473:pathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic