Got Wrinkles? Acne? Don't Worry, There's an App for That.

In the epic blackberry vs. iPhone debate, I am definitely on the iPhone side. I've had my iPhone for over two years now, and could not possibly live without it. I have over 25 Apps (in addition to the ones already installed on the phone), ranging from practical ones like Yelp and ESPN ScoreCenter, to the less practical (but equally important) Apps like AtomicFart and BeerPong. It is pretty easy to convince me to download an App, especially when it's free or just $.99, but I'm sorry, an App that gets rid of acne? You've got to be kidding me.

I have mentioned some other Apps related to plastic surgery in previous posts, such as the iSurgeon. here, you can upload pictures of yourself and simulate different plastic surgeries. Essentially, they turned giving yourself a boob job into a game. Dr. Salzhauer, the creator of the "game", gave his reasons for creating it:

The iTunes App Store was lacking a truly useful and well-designed beauty makeover App. The iSurgeon Game delivers on the promise of realistic photo alterations while also allowing users to partake in plastic surgery games playing the role of a surgeon.

Alright. In the grand scheme of things, this App is not that big a deal. I would be lying if I said if I wasn't a little curious about what I'd look like with a nip and a tuck here or there. But what happens when a younger teenager stumbles on this App? What kind of message does that send to them? My 13 year old cousin is obsessed with her iTouch, and coincidentally obsessed with her appearance (no joke she must brush her hair 10,000 times a day and put lip-gloss on every 4 minutes). What would happen if someone like her found this App and decided to try it out? I would hate for kids, especially girls, of that generation to equate plastic surgery to a game - to think that it's not a big deal, or to think that they need a nose/boob/butt/whatever else kind of job in order to be considered attractive.

Taking the whole plastic surgery App concept further, there are now Apps which claim to reduce acne, smooth wrinkles, remove hair, bust cellulite, and more. Now I apologize for the language, but no way in hell that works. 

The first App I heard about was the AcneApp. This App claims to work by emitting an alternating blue (antibacterial) and red (anti-inflammatory) light technology, believed to kill bacteria associated with acne and promote healing, and even work on wrinkles by stimulating collagen growth. You can even use it while making a call! Now, I always thought extended cell-phone use promoted acne because of the bacteria and oils on your phone being pressed against your face, but with some red and blue light...problem solved! Give me a break. The creator, Dr. Pearson was even skeptical about it, along with a colleague in an article from the New York Times.

'This would have to go through a lot more clinical study before I could quantify its efficacy,' Dr. Pearson said.

When asked about the AcneApp, Dr. Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas gave an audible shrug. 'In studies we've done, data has shown that both blue and red light have a low efficacy range in acne treatment,' Dr. Alexiades-Armenakas said. 'But it took dozens, and I mean dozens - 88 treatments -  of the therapy, before we could see any results.' And without knowing the spectral output of the iPhone or iPod Touch, she said another concern of hers would be that while running the AcneApp, harmful ultraviolet rays could be emitted.

The second, more elaborate App, is the AntiAging App. This one really has it all.  Wrinkle eraser, acne clear, cellulite buster, skin cleanser, dark circles and puffy eyes, stretch marks and scars, oxygenation and circulation, joint discomfort and arthritis, sleep disorder and muscle tension, and hair growth stimulator...all for $2.99!! If you were to have real in-house treatments or buy products for each of those things, you could easily spend thousands of dollars in a given year. While this App offers a cheaper, pain-free option, I highly doubt it works. Like the previous App, this one uses different colored lights for each treatment. Here is the company's explanation of how this App can erase wrinkles:

The wrinkle eraser uses green color and the Jade gemstone to increase collagen and elastin. Green is the color of nature. It is related to love and self-love and includes the ability to give and take love unconditionally. It has a calming effect that especially builds collagen, elastin, and protein therefore helping with wrinkles and fine lines.

 So, since green is the same color of trees and can give and take love, I should just put a green light on my face? It loves me so much it will get rid of my wrinkles? I don't think so. While I commend these Doctors for their technological advances, they have yet to convince me that any of these Apps actually work. I would think if they did they would be more expensive than a couple bucks, and would be getting a lot more (positive) attention than they are. I think I'll stick with my AtomicFart App for my iPhone, and some anti-wrinkle cream for under my eyes.