Let’s admit it, we’re all guilty of checking our phone multiple times a day. You might be surprised to know on average, many of us will check our screens around 85 times a day. Sounds like a lot doesn’t it? but consider how much more time we are spending on our devices during the current pandemic. Being confined to lock down and with an increase in the number of people working from home on their desktops, the additional time spent in front of screens is a scary thought.
With this in mind it’s difficult not to think about the effects this is having on our health. The long term effects of blue light exposure emitting from our screens are not only damaging to our eyes but increasingly this ‘blue light pollution’ is having a major impact on our skin.
What is ‘blue light pollution’ and how does it affect the skin?
In simple terms, it is the blue light that is a man-made version of the sun. Blue light is commonly discharged from electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, TV screens, tablets, and LED lighting. It can be extremely harmful to the skin as blue light can penetrate the dermis which has a direct impact on collagen and elastin of the skin. We take a look at some of the biggest issues caused by blue light damage and how to treat the damage.
Ageing
It’s an inevitable realisation and many of us are aware of the damage caused by UV from the sun. Studies have shown that blue light can promote skin ageing as it penetrates deep into the skin causing collagen to breakdown and impacting skin’s ability to bounce back to its original position. As a result, common ageing factors such as wrinkles and a lack of firmness can be made more prominent.
Brown spots and dullness
Just as UV rays from the sun cause brown spots and hyperpigmentation (such as melasma), blue light can be a contributor to oxidative stress in the skin. When melanin (the cells in the skin that are responsible for its colour) is damaged, its ability to protect our skin from the effects of blue light is considerably impacted.
Inflammation
A problem many acne sufferers experiences, coupled with the compulsory wearing of masks during the pandemic, inflammation of the skin is a major concern. Once blue light has penetrated the skin it can damage the skin’s DNA which can cause inflammation. A condition that is not only painful but can last for weeks if untreated.
The weakening of the skin’s surface
The longer we are on our devices at night the more likely our sleep or natural circadian patterns is disrupted. Long periods on our phones can cause our skin cells to think it’s still daytime and this can inhibit the night time repair process to our skin. To make matters worse, many of us aren’t even aware of how close we hold our devices to our faces, giving blue light a greater opportunity to weaken the surface on our skin.
Raw ingredients to treat the skin
In addition to reducing screen time (which is challenging given the current climate we live in), there are raw natural ingredients such as silver vine extract, that are effective in treating the damage from excessive blue light pollution on the skin.
Silver vine extract (available from our supplier Nikko) has been shown to improve luminosity and texture in the skin. Its properties are also known to increase moisture in the skin which aids in the reduction of premature aging.
Other essential nutrients and topical antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E are also effective in reducing the damage caused by blue light. Vitamin C in particular, serves to revitalise and rejuvenate the appearance of skin that appears dull and tired due to blue light overexposure. Known for their ability to lighten spots, pomegranates and goji fruit are popular agents that are rich in antioxidants that soothe irritation and treat inflamed skin.
If you are looking to source raw ingredients to assist you with the formulation of products to treat the effects of blue light pollution on the skin, then contact Ceechem today and our team of specialists will help get you started.