They say “a picture is worth a thousand words” and that is certainly being proved by Canadian software developer, Aprilage. The company has developed new photoaging software which is being put to effective use in anti-smoking campaigns targeted specifically at teens.

The software takes your photograph and ages it to show you two versions of yourself in sixty years time - one after a pack a day and one as a non-smoker. No prizes for guessing which one looks the youngest.

Being sixty years older and still alive is a horrifying thought for most teenagers but the photos have proved very shocking to a generation so obsessed with self image. It appears that most teenagers just haven't considered the damage that smoking will do to their looks.

Taken aback by the sagging, wrinkles, age spots and all the usual signs of "smokers face" - the reaction of the teens was summed up by one participant: "that's disgusting…I don't want to look like that when I'm 70". 

According to the latest statistics, 23% of the teens smoke and smoking is increasing among young people - especially young women. Experts say that health warnings and pictures of the damage done to internal organs is not shocking enough for the teens. Pictures of the damage smoking can inflict on the face may just do the trick.