Until today, it was commonly known that long-term usage of digital devices affects the human mind and body. But now, scientists are drawing attention to the excessive exposure to blue light, which dramatically affects the health and look of our skin!
Known as HEV (high energy visible light), blue light is one of the colors belonging to the visible light spectrum – in fact, it is the shortest wavelength of the visible light spectrum and is closest to ultraviolet radiation, which causes skin aging.
Blue light is firstly emitted by the sun – he is the main source of blue light-and thanks to that we enjoy the blue color of the sky. So, we're exposed to it when we're outdoors during the day.
However, there are – as we all know – many artificial sources of blue light, such as the screens of computers, laptops, tablets, televisions, mobile phones, fluorescent lamps, LED lamps and other digital devices that surround us.
And one might reasonably wonder: is the amount of radiation emitted by these devices equivalent to that emitted by the sun? No. But it is the time we spend every day in front of these devices and their proximity to our faces, that causes long-term problems in their skin.
It is noteworthy that the penetration of blue radiation is deeper into the skin, even than that of UV radiation, and even without even realizing it! The explanation lies in the fact that we do not feel the blue light, it does not warm or burns us, to recognize that it is causing us damage which will be seen on our skin in the long term.
What is blue radiation causes to the skin?
Medical science systematically studies and researches the effects of blue light on the skin, bringing to light very interesting findings.
Premature photoaging occurs: Blue light affects the structure and function of cells and reduces the production of collagen, leading to the creation of wrinkles and sagging skin.
Oxidative stress is caused: Blue radiation leads to the increase of free radicals, causing oxidative stress in the body, accelerating the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The harm grows even more when we frown.
Small skin inflammations or swellings arise: That is the result of the deep penetration of blue light into the skin.
Discolorations appear: Blue light activates the melanocytes responsible for the production of melanin.
The skin barrier is weakened: In fact, the skin protector that keeps it hydrated is dramatically reduced, resulting in the skin being dry, dehydrated, and stiff.
Of course, it is appropriate to emphasize on some types of blue light that are not harmful to the skin – quite the opposite! Dermatologists use blue light to treat various skin diseases (such as acne) while blue light is also used in the treatment of precancerous lesions, combined with various topical treatments.
How can we protect our skin from blue light?
Excluding all electronic devices from our lives seems difficult – if not impossible - and it would be pointless to sever our relationship with technology. So how can we protect ourselves the best way, from blue radiation?
Take frequent breaks from the screen: turn off the laptop, we keep our hands away from the mobile phone as often and as much as we can during our day.
Enjoy natural light: during each break, we go out to the sun, enjoying the benefits of natural light to our body and soul.
Use glasses with a special coating: To protect our eyes and skin from blue radiation, we choose special glasses with a yellow coating on the lens. If we already wear glasses, we can ask our optician to add to our lenses the special coating that filters blue light.
Turn on the blue light filter on the mobile devices: There is no smartphone that does not have the "Night mode" setting, which turns off the blue light. In addition, download relevant applications that add the filter to the smartphone or tablet and apply the special protective screen accessories which filter the blue light.
Adopt an antioxidant diet: A body is protected against oxidative stress's effects through nutrition. Enrich the daily menu with foods rich in antioxidants such as olive oil, citrus fruits, pomegranate, green vegetables, green tea, etc.
Apply sun protection, even inside the house, even at night: It may sound strange or excessive, but it is recommended by experts to put sunscreen on if we are going to work long hours in front of our computer. In fact, the recommendation is for the use of sun protection products with broad-spectrum filters, which strengthen the skin's defense against blue radiation.
