How Your Phone Could Be Damaging Your Skin

We all know that blue light can put some major strain on our eyes, but can screens damage your skin too? Some research suggests that our screen time could be causing premature signs of aging.

What is Blue Light?

Lets go over what blue light is. Blue light, part of the spectrum of visible light, is a high-energy, short-wavelength light (not to be confused with UVA or UVB rays). A majority of blue light comes from the sun, however we also get a significant amount of exposure from our screens and indoor lighting. Don’t get us wrong though, blue light isn’t all bad. Blue light plays an important role in maintaining good health. How? It regulates our circadian rhythm, our natural sleep-wake cycle. It has also been said that the right amount of blue-light can elevate mood, help memory, and improve cognitive functioning.

Is Blue Light Damaging?

Blue Light has been a hot topic lately. You even may have noticed blue light fighting products popping up in your skincare. So, does that mean it’s damaging your skin? Well it seems that there is mounting evidence that supports the idea that blue-light wavelengths (the suns blue light) contributes to wrinkles, worsening skin laxity, and hyperpigmentation. Research studies are still ongoing, but so far the results aren’t looking so good. One small study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology in 2010 found that blue-light on the skin caused more pigment, redness, and swelling than when the same person's skin was exposed to comparable levels of UVA rays. Another small study suggested that blue-light might stimulate the production of free radicals in skin, which are known to cause signs of aging. Dermatologist and researchers have a pretty good idea that visible light (the suns blue light) triggers skin conditions such as melasma and accelerate signs of aging. However, we are not certain how the blue light from our screens affects us.  

Overall:

To Recap: We know that blue-light from the sun can cause damage to our skin, however it is still inconclusive as to whether or not we need to worry the blue light from our screens too. The most we can do right now is keep an eye out for more conclusive findings, and invest in skincare products that have blue-light protection (to be safe). We actually carry a line that has blue-light protection throughout its whole line like: ColoreScience. They have a powder brush-on sunscreen (with blue-light protection) that can go right over your makeup! It’s a good idea, not only for your skin but for your eyes, to set your phone to go into “Night Mode” that turns off the blue light within the phone.

For More Information:

For more information on blue light or skincare please contact us at ZONA Med Spa. Or book a complimentary consultation online by clicking here.