There is evidence that blue light may seriously endanger the health of your skin, though research in this area is still in its infancy. Blue light has the impact of speeding up the natural ageing process, resulting in more skin damage and age-related visual symptoms. This article talks about the dangers of blue light,the damage it can cause to skin and the necessary precautions.
Protection from UVA and UVB radiation is no longer sufficient to stop premature ageing, according to experts, as new study shows that blue light, which is produced by the sun and our electronic devices, is as harmful to our skin.
We are gradually becoming dependent on our digital devices, which are gradually earning the moniker "the silent agers of our generation," and we are now seeing more evidence of the possible long-term consequences of visible light, particularly blue light, on our skin.
You receive the same amount of energy from four to eight-hour workdays in front of a computer as you would from 20 minutes outside in the midday sun. To put this in context, "seven minutes of sun exposure at 1pm is powerful enough to promote instant tanning."
80% of women are interested in skincare products that block blue light
76% of individuals, according to the most recent survey by the firm Pilgrim, spend more than three hours in front of their smartphone and laptop screens. 38.6% of respondents in the 19–30 age range admit to staring at their phone and laptop screens for longer than six hours ever day. Flat-screen televisions, cell phones, and laptop screens all have LED capabilities and emit High Energy Visible (HEV) light. According to the survey, 74.8% of respondents, the majority of whom are from tier 1 cities like Delhi, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad, are aware that blue light might harm the skin. Alarmingly, 41.9% of those surveyed had already noticed these consequences in one way or another. Another intriguing finding from the survey was that, according to about 80% of women, skincare products can help shield skin from harm, and sunscreen is the most popular product for doing so.
The Issues with Blue Light
Blue light, also known as High Energy Visible (HEV) light, has been demonstrated in tests to cause oxidative stress in live skin, which offers a risk of skin damage through the formation of free radicals. This can hasten the ageing of the skin, much like UVA exposure, which has long been known to prematurely age our skin. However, blue light has the capacity to penetrate the skin more deeply than UVA and UVB light. In fact, blue light can reach our dermis, which is where our collagen and elastin are found.
By producing pigmentation, blue light may also contribute to the ageing of our skin. According to studies, visible light may also be more effective than UV radiation at causing pigmentation, says the dermatologists.
According to studies, visible light may also be more effective than UV radiation at causing pigmentation, says the dermatologists.
Blue light also impairs our ability to have a good night's sleep by interfering with our circadian cycle. It might be more difficult for you to fall asleep if you are exposed to a lot of blue light at night, for instance. The reason for this is that blue light "affects the level of melatonin, our sleep hormone."
Blue Lights From Electronic Screens Can Be Harmful to Your Health
Blue light, or high energy visible (HEV) light, can directly penetrate the retina and has a detrimental impact on health. It is emitted through screens of TVs, smartphones, tablets, computers, and other electronics. Blue lights' initial and most noticeable effect has been their link to poor sleep.
Blue lights from digital devices have been identified by scientists as probable cancer-causing agents. Because they have an adverse effect on the pineal gland, which causes depression, anxiety, mood swings, and sleeping problems, they are also bad for your brain.
The hormone melatonin, which causes sleep, is suppressed by blue light in the body. There are two results from this:
A decrease in the quality of your sleep because you tend to sleep more quickly but wake up more exhausted than normal. The emotional brain region known as the amygdala is similarly impacted by blue light. You get more agitated and have mood swings as a result of this. Reduction in growth hormone release, which keeps you feeling young.
Blue Light's Effects on Your Skin
Due to the connection between ultraviolet rays and the generation of free radicals, which can harm the cellular DNA of the skin, blue light has an impact on your skin. It causes DNA damage and accelerates ageing, which might make you appear older than you actually are. By inhibiting the hormone melatonin, which keeps our bodies on a regular sleeping cycle, it also has an impact on our sleep habits. Blue light is detected by the eyes when it is reflected into the retina by unique photoreceptor cells known as cones.
Blue light damages skin in two different ways:
First, by altering the structure of DNA, it causes direct damage that might result in skin cancer.
Second, it prevents the synthesis of vitamin B3 (niacin), which raises the formation of skin melanin and darkens the skin. This is referred to as photoaging.
The most frequent side effect is increased ageing of the skin. Shorter wavelengths allow it to penetrate the skin more deeply than red light, which increases the likelihood of dermal cell damage.
According to a new study, prolonged exposure to blue light can quicken skin ageing by lowering hyaluronic acid levels in the skin.
How Should You Prevent Skin Damage From Computer Radiation?
It is important to understand that the skin is a sensitive organ of the body. Sensitive skin reacts to numerous allergens and toxins in the environment.
Avoiding undue stress on the skin is crucial. Since skin cannot adjust to extreme temperature changes, it may suffer if a person is subjected to excessive heat or cold.
Throughout our lives, we are exposed to around 100 billion radiation particles from a variety of sources, including medical treatments like CT scans.
Radiation exposure can have a negative impact on your skin, which is the biggest and most exposed organ. It's important to pay close attention to how much UV light and electromagnetic radiation are reaching this sensitive area of the body via the computer screen.
Buy a computer monitor specifically for work.These monitors feature faster refresh rates, which acts as an additional barrier against radiation damage. While using the computer, regularly apply sunscreen (SPF 30+).
If you reside in a dry area, use a humidifier.
Regularly moisturise your skin every day, especially if you spend a lot of time in front of a computer. Make sure to take many breaks and to stretch frequently while you are taking them.
Over your ordinary glasses, put on a pair that blocks blue light
The highest frequency radiations, or microwaves, are emitted by cordless phones, cell phones, laptops, tablets, iPads, and other electronic gadgets.
Take away
Do you believe you are protected within the four walls of your house? Think again. The majority of televisions and computer screens produce a lot of blue light.
Once the sun has set, keep your devices at least 20 inches away from your face when using them, and try to avoid staring at the screen directly. If you can't do that, try setting your electronic devices to emit green or amber light at least two hours before you want to go to bed. Additionally, if you're going to be exposed to sunlight for an extended amount of time, you should use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Additionally, if you're going to be exposed to sunlight for an extended amount of time, you should use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
