Drinking Mirror app to deter drinking

Before and after photos of women who used mobile app Drinking Mirror.

By Lee Kyung-min

The Scottish Government launched a free mobile app Drinking Mirror to curb excessive alcohol consumption and worsening health problems.

The Drinking Mirror app illustrates how fast people might get old by alcohol consumption. The new app comes as part of a Drop a Glass Size in 2013 Campaign

Upon entering a drinking habit and their current photo, an image pops up simulating what they might look in ten years. The photo details forehead wrinkles, bloodshot eyes, and saggy jowls.

This app might work as a major deterrent to women who fear old-looking since they see how drinking compromises their beauty, experts say.

“Alcohol undoubtedly has an effect on our appearance in the short and long-term. As well as causing bloating and dark circles under your eyes, alcohol dries out skin and can lead to wrinkles and premature aging,” said Dr. Samantha Robson.

“Many people forget that alcohol also affects their sleep, which doesn’t do skin any favors. But drinking more than you should over time can have other, more permanent, detrimental effects on your skin and more importantly your overall health,” she said.

Aside from popular belief that moderate drinking may be linked with better overall health, drinking definitely dehydrates skin, according to a cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Oscar Hevia.

She cautioned that sunlight is more of a culprit for premature skin ageing than alcohol. “Alcohol consumption has very little to do with broken capillaries. The sun is much more to be blamed than alcohol," she said.

“But there's no denying that drinking causes dehydration and makes our skin look tired and unhealthy,” she added. Also, to combat the unwanted compromised look, another doctor Rebecca Baxt recommended consuming one glass of water per an alcoholic drink to keep our skin hydrated.