Who knew there would be a light that would pose a bigger threat to our skin than sunlight? And how helpless we’d feel finding out that the culprit is right in our hands!?

Friends, I guess our mums were right all along – the phone is the reason we have dull skin.

Well, not just the phone. Digital screen is a more inclusive term that is present in all the devices – phone, tablet, laptop, PC, and television.

What is Blue Light?

Blue Light is a visible light spectrum of sunlight. It is the only light that is visible to the naked eye. Blue light is also given off by indoor lighting and electronic devices. 

The Effects of Blue Light on Skin

Blue light penetrates deep into the skin, surpassing even those layers that the sun is limited to. Therefore, it poses certain risks to the skin. Thankfully, skin cancer is not one of them. 

Research shows that blue light can damage the health of your skin. Even a minimum of sixty minutes of blue light exposure leads to shrinking, and sometimes, the killing of skin cells. 

It also leads to the breakage of vital skin proteins like collagen and elastin which are responsible for a plump and healthy appearance. Thus, speeding up the aging process. 

An excess of blue light causes hyperpigmentation around the skin, especially in people with melanin-rich skin tones. Other effects include redness and swelling too.

An indirect effect of blue light on the skin occurs due to its influence on our sleep cycle. The more our eyes are exposed to screens during the night, the more it signals our bodies to stay energized, thus disrupting our sleep cycle. And as we all know, an unhealthy sleeping pattern majorly contributes to premature skin aging.

The above are the only effects that have surfaced via research. However, the real harm may be more than we know just yet. That is why following the next steps is crucial to stay on the safer side of the fence.

Precautions & Treatments Against Blue Light

Unfortunately, we cannot eliminate our exposure to blue light in this era, because our lives are highly dependent on electronic devices. However, there are some measures that we can take in our daily lives to lessen its effects on our skin and overall health.

• Cover the screens of electronic devices with a blue light protector. Or use the built-in feature of your device to minimize or turn off the blue lights. 
• Wear high quality, anti-blue light, also known as blue light blocking glasses to block harmful rays from reaching your eyes. 
• Use physical sunscreen daily. The zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in physical sunscreens prevent photodamage on the skin. 
• Incorporate antioxidants into your skincare routine, like niacinamide and vitamin C.
• Use skincare products that boost collagen and elastin, like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides, etc.

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