Identical twins shared major difference after one smoked and the other didn’t

Telling the difference between identical twins can be tricky at the best of times but something that can result in a major change of appearance is if one picks up a harmful habit and the other doesn't.

Take smoking, for instance, it prematurely ages the face by dulling your skin, yellowing your teeth and making your eyes drier and more irritated.

It gives one a grey, dull and sagging appearance, which can make them appear older, and if they had an identical twin, would allow them to be picked out more easily.

There have been a number of studies done on the ageing impacts of smoking, and identical twins are ideal for such things, as if one twin doesn't do something, you have a ready-made control group.

A number of experiments have used identical twins to show the differences it has on the appearance, with the results placed side by side for a clearer look.

It's well known that smoking cigarettes comes with a whole range of nasty side effects (Getty Stock Image)

Research has found a 'marked disparity in the degree of facial ageing' among the identical twins who were smokers compared to their non-smoking counterparts.

In one example, as seen by the New York Times, the impact of just a couple of cigarettes a day could be seen in the skin and eyes, while other twins who were part of the various studies included ones who smoked at different rates, and once again, there was a clear difference that correlated with smoking more.

According to one study, the seven main differences smoking had on the facial appearance were:

• Worse scores for upper eyelid skin redundancy
• Lower lid bags (puffy areas under the eyes)
• Malar bags (swollen pouches under the eyelids onto the cheekbones)
• Nasolabial folds (skin creases running from the nose to the corners of the mouth)
• Upper lip wrinkles
• Lower lip vermillion wrinkles (fine lines or wrinkles that are visible on the red part of the lower lip)
• Jowls

This is the twin who didn't smoke (American Society of Plastic Surgeons / Dr. Bahman Guyuron)

And this is the identical twin who did smoke (American Society of Plastic Surgeons / Dr. Bahman Guyuron)

Researchers noted: "Among twins with greater than five years’ difference in smoking duration, twins who had smoked longer had worse scores for lower lid bags, malar bags, and lower lip vermillion wrinkles."

“This study confirms some of what was believed in the most scientific way possible,” said Dr. Bahman Guyuron, who led the research.

“With longer follow-up, we believe that every smoking twin might have exhibited a difference in ageing. Smoking reduces the collagen formation, results in collagen degradation and reduces the skin circulation.

“Additionally, nicotine reduces the skin thickness. All of these reduce skin elasticity and [cause] premature ageing.”