Blue light refers to the light radiating from digital screens such as those of tablets, laptops, smartphones, and TVs. While it is already known that blue light from computer screens can cause digital eye strain, not many know about its negative effects on the skin.
It can definitely harm your skin as certain wavelength strengths cause changes to the structure of your skin. To help you understand better, let’s go back to the basics we know about skin conditions like skin cancer and premature aging.
Of course, UVA and UVB rays from the sunlight can damage the skin. But did you know that there are also other kinds of rays that can wreak havoc on your skin? Blue light rays may very well be similar to UV rays in terms of skin damage. Read on to know all about it.
What is Blue Light?
There are various colors in the visible light spectrum, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. The seven colors together make the white light that is visible when you try to look towards the sun.
As the name already suggests, blue light rays refer to the spectrum of visible light from blue to violet. While the visible spectrum of light initially refers to light that the sun emits, other sources like Led and Fluorescent light bulbs and digital devices also emit blue light. These lights can negatively affect your skin, just like the UV rays from the sun.
The Damaging Effect of Blue Light on Skin
Blue light surely has negative effects on the eyes, but it can also cause a lot of damage to your skin. While research is still lacking, many preliminary studies reveal the ill effect of blue light rays on skin health.
DNA Damage
A preliminary study observed a group of people with dark-colored skin by exposing them to visible blue light. The findings showed a lot of swelling, redness as well as pigment changes in the skin. On the other hand, a group of people with lighter skin also participated in the study and were exposed to UVA rays of similar levels as those of blue light.
While the lighter-skinned people showed signs of swelling, redness, and pigment changes, there was a significant difference of severity as compared to dark-skinned group of people. This suggests that visible blue light can penetrate through the skin and cause reactive oxygen species (ROS). These reactive species can damage skin DNA and cause the breakdown of elastin fibers and collagen.
Premature Aging
A study was published in February 2015 in Oxidative Medicine and Longevity regarding blue light exposure and skin. The study highlights a connection between blue light rays and the production of free radicals in the skin. Free radicals in the skin can speed up the process of skin aging. This suggests that excessive exposure to blue light rays can cause premature aging of the skin.
Another way that blue light from computer screens may be speeding up the aging process is through pigmentation, as it can cause pigment changes. Furthermore, blue can also cause other changes to the skin, such as the shrinking of cells and even death. This leads to speedy aging.
Tips to Prevent Skin Damage from Digital Screens
The modern way of living does not offer many opportunities when it comes to avoiding blue light. While it may seem impossible to completely avoid exposure to blue light emitted by digital screens, you can still take a few measures to mitigate its harmful effects. Here are a few tips for doing so:
- You can use blue light shields for the least blue light exposure. Many smartphones come with blue-light filtering options. Make sure you turn the yellow light as much as possible.
- Incorporate anti-oxidants into your daily skincare routine. Powerful anti-oxidants like Vitamin C or Retinol can help the skin reduce or reverse oxidative damage from blue light exposure.
- The skin cells regenerate during sleep hours, so it is best to avoid the use of digital devices before bed. Make sure you are not exposed to blue light for at least an hour before bedtime.
- Start using peptide and collagen-boosting skin treatments and products. This can slow down the skin aging process in contrast to premature aging by blue light exposure.
- Look for sunscreens that contain Zinc Oxide as it offers protection against harmful blue light rays. Or, use skincare products containing Zinc Oxide.
Sources
https://www.allure.com/story/blue-light-phone-skin-effects
https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/blue-light-skin
