Blue Light Can Harm Your Skin, 5 Ways to Minimise The Damage

Studies have shown that the time Indians spend looking at digital screens is greater than the time spent by Americans and Chinese.

Hour-long screen time is the new normal for many. From work to entertainment or relaxation, mobile devices, laptops and tablets are the go-to devices. There are multiple adverse health effects, from mental and emotional to physical, too much screen time can make everything go wrong. However, did you know that it also affects our skin? Not many people are aware of the challenges that light from a screen can cause to the health of our skin.

According to experts, increased exposure to blue light from various smart screens, including LED TVs, tablets, and smartphones, can be harmful to the skin.

How does blue light affect our skin?

Smartphones, computers, tablets, and laptops release harmful radiation, specifically blue light that can cause burns, allergic reactions, redness, and faster aging of the skin. Studies have shown that the time Indians spend looking at digital screens is greater than the time spent by Americans and Chinese. The global average of 7 hours, which has increased by roughly 50 minutes per day since 2013, IANS reported.

Blue light has the ability to penetrate deeper into the skin, and some global studies confirm that even a 1-hour exposure to this phenomenon can trigger skin-related health problems.

That explains the reason behind an exponential increase in skin-related health problems around the world, and in India in particular, according to dermatologists.

“Blue light exposure can cause premature aging and wrinkling of the skin, sagging due to the breakdown of collagen, hyperpigmentation, freckles, tanning, and other issues,” Dr. Koushik Lahiri, Senior Consultant Dermatologist and Vice President, Senior Consultant Dermatologist, told IANS. the Indian Society of Dermatology. .

“Blue light is the factor behind oxidative damage, which is a chain reaction, when unstable oxygen molecules are stolen from nearby cells to stabilize themselves. In the process, they create more unstable molecules,” added Dr. Janaki K. Yalamanchili, Consultant Dermatologist, Cosmetologist and Trichologist, Associated with KIMS Hospitals, Hyderabad.

5 ways to minimize damage

While it may not be possible to cut screen time completely, Lahiri advised on the need to reduce screen time.

1. Use these devices intermittently. Continued use could be harmful.
2. Use sunscreen: In addition, the experts also advised using a sunscreen that offers double protection, since it eliminates the hassle of using one for outdoors and another for indoors.
3. Use night mode on devices-One of the easiest ways to get rid of blue light emitted by devices is to switch to night or dark mode. “Dark mode or night light automatically turns off blue light,” dermatologist Dr. Gurveen Waraich shared on his Instagram.
4. Use products that contain antioxidants.– The expert suggested that serums and creams containing antioxidants such as vitamin C, E and Idebenone should be used, since she pointed out that “they not only combat the harmful effects of blue light, but also reverse the damage caused by it”.
5. Use the Anti-Blue Light screen protector: Although it is not 100% efficient, it definitely provides some protection against blue light.

It’s time to manage that excess screen time and practice good skin care to improve skin health.