Dr. Anna Land shares her insight on the effects of blue light on your skin.
I hate to bring it up…but lets talk about blue light and skin damage.
Did you know most people check their phone over 50 times/day and spend over three hours in front of screens? Actually, for many of us that number can be even higher (some reports suggest millennials check their phones >150 times/day)
Blue light – also referred to as high energy visible light- is emitted from the sun, but it also emanates from most digital devices including our smartphones, computer screens, fluorescent bulbs and televisions
We have known for a long time that this type of light exposure can impair eyesight and disrupt sleep cycles. However, there is increasing evidence on the long term harms of visible light on our skin
This type of chronic light exposure increases oxidative stress in the skin which contributes to skin aging through the loss of collagen and elastin. Several studies also show that it can greatly contribute to melasma and hyperpigmentation (darkening) of the face…possibly even more than ultraviolet light does!
To make matters worse – not all sunscreens adequately protect from blue light. Here are a few tips to help minimize the damage:
In the evening, switch your smartphone to “night mode” and schedule it so it kicks on at the same time every evening. This setting disables blue light in favor of yellow light. Mine is set to turn on at 7pm and stays that way until the next morning
Consider blue light screen shields to cover your phone and tablet and blue light blocking glasses. Both are easy to apply and are readily available.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with iron oxides as well as topical antioxidants like Vitamin C to minimize damage and repair the skin.
A few favorites are @eltamdskincare Elements tinted SPF @muradskincare City Skin Age Defense, @skinbetter Sun Better Sunscreen Stick.
Make these few easy tweaks and protect yourself from the effects of blue light on your skin…despite that last episode of Ozark’s or social medial scrolling.
Schedule an appointment with REN Dermatology here!