It's a bad line so I'm having 'BlackBerry Botox' - phones causing wrinkles

Young women are developing premature wrinkles from staring at their smartphones all day, says a top cosmetic doctor.

Dr Jean-Louis Sebagh said many women are resorting to a form of Botox treatment -dubbed "BlackBerry Botox" - in a bid to erase the facial lines caused by squinting at their smartphones.

He said that hours spent peering at the tiny screens scrunches up the face, causing an area of tension around and between the brows. The anti-ageing expert, whose clients include supermodel Cindy Crawford, said this new phenomenon can affect anyone who regularly checks their smartphone.

Dr Sebagh, who has a clinic in Wimpole Street, told the Evening Standard: "This phenomenon is not unusual with women living in London and the South-East. It can be seen on anyone who has and regularly checks a BlackBerry or iPhone.

"The natural tendency is to squint at the screen when reading messages and as a result some people develop this area of tightness/small frown lines between the brows, which is easily rectified with the light use of Botox by an experienced doctor."

Dr Sebagh uses the muscle relaxant to banish fine lines and wrinkles.

London beauty therapist Nichola Joss has become aware of the phenomenon recently among some customers. Ms Joss said: "I've noticed a huge difference over the past 18 months in my clients' faces - it's the constant peering intently down at that mini screen. It's the same with an iPhone." Instead of Blackberry Botox, she recommends a daily DIY face massage.

Smartphone-related wrinkles are the latest condition that doctors attribute to overuse of technology.

Others include "BlackBerry thumb" - a form of repetitive strain injury caused by excessive texting. Another is "computer vision syndrome" - dry eyes caused by computers users failing to blink enough when staring at a screen for long periods.

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