ADS
They might look like part of a Halloween costume, but a series of shocking masks have been designed to demonstrate the real and frightening health risks associated with smoking.As well as highlighting the horrors of mouth and throat cancers, macular degeneration and periodontal disease, the masks show premature ageing of the skin and early greying of the hair, as part of a new campaign.
The masks were inspired by health warnings on cigarette packets and are designed to educate and shock smokers into giving up cigarettes.
Scroll down for video
As well as highlighting the horrors of mouth and throat cancers, macular degeneration and periodontal disease, the masks (pictured) show premature ageing of the skin and early greying of the hair, as part of a new campaign
DISEASES THE MASKS HIGHLIGHT
- Mouth and throat cancers
- Macular degeneration including age-related cataracts
- Periodontal disease with damaged gums and exposed tooth roots and more cosmetic matters such as...
- Premature ageing of the skin due to a loss of collagen leading to wrinkly skin and deep crows feet
- Early thinning and greying of the hair caused by stress to the body and damage to DNA of hair follicles
A team of prosthetics experts took two months to create what they have said are true depictions of the medical conditions by carving solid heads, building up features with clay and plaster work, adding layers of liquid latex and intricate and detailed paintwork.
Two masks were crafted to show the effects of long-term smoking on 40-year-old men.
Two masks show the effects of long-term smoking on 40-year-old men. The first has a scary hole in its neck, which represents the result of a tracheostomy that might be required for throat, neck or head cancers, while the second is a victim of throat cancer, which has invaded deeper tissues, including muscle and the trachea
Actors wearing specially commissioned Halloween-style masks representing the damaging effects caused by smoking, approach members of the public in London, to promote a stop smoking campaign this October by online clinic HealthExpress
The first mask has a scary hole in its neck, which represents the result of a tracheostomy that might be required for throat, neck or head cancers as well as treatment of severe pneumonia, of which smokers face a high risk of getting.
It also shows the increased risk of age-related cataracts - the leading cause of blindness in the world - as well as excessive wrinkles and crows feet around eyes.
Another mask shows a victim of throat cancer, which has invaded deeper tissues, including muscle and the trachea. An enlarged tumour is compressing the trachea and causing breathing difficulties.
The final mask is of a 30-year-olf female who has skin damage to her lips, which is a visual symptom of mouth cancer
The man's grey hair is the result of added stress on his body, while crows feet around his eyes are brought on by squinting to protect his eyes from smoke fumes.
His eyes have irregularities and lumpy tissue on the white of the eye due to irritation from the smoke, while the hardening of the carotid artery makes a stroke six times as likely compared to a man who does not smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day.
The final mask is of a 30-year-old female who has skin damage to her lips, which is a visual symptom of mouth cancer.
The girl's teeth and gums have been damaged by tobacco products, which deplete gum tissue and expose tooth roots to periodontal disease, while there is nicotine staining on her imperfect teeth.
The mask also shows premature ageing of the skin as she has excessive wrinkles and crows feet around her eyes, caused by a significant loss of collagen thanks to smoking, which causes her skin to sag and wrinkle early as the connective tissue beneath the skin that keeps it firm and elastic has been damaged.
Her hair is shown to be thinning and grey as the result of damage to the DNA of the hair follicles, as well as a reduced supply of blood to the follicles.
Startled smokers are being confronted in the street by shocking Halloween-style masks that depict the damage their habit can cause. Health campaigners hope the hard-hitting facial designs sported by actors will scare some of Britain's 10 million smokers into giving up
Street teams from HealthExpress wearing the masks will be out and about in cities known to be home to many smokers, to highlight the dangers of the addictive habit.
Dr Hilary Jones, an independent medical adviser to HealthExpress said: ‘These masks are truly terrifying because unlike Halloween ghosts and ghouls they represent the very real possible side effects of long-term smoking.
'They offer a compelling warning to smokers and we hope that this will encourage them to seek help and give up.'
Dr Hilary Jones, an independent medical adviser to HealthExpress said: 'These masks are truly terrifying because unlike Halloween ghosts and ghouls they represent the very real possible side effects of long-term smoking.' Here a smoker accepts a leaflet from a masked-actor as part of the campaign.
ADS
No comments:
Post a Comment