It is known that the blue light emitted by technological devices can affect the eyes and the quality of sleep. However, it has been suggested that blue light, especially with the increase in screen time, can also wreak havoc on the skin, notably causing premature signs of ageing. Although the blue light emitted by screens is not as concerning as that from sun exposure and further research is needed, let's explore in this article what needs to be done to stay protected from the damage caused by exposure to the sun's blue light.
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What can be done to limit the harmful effects of blue light on the skin?
Summary
- Step No. 1: Use a physical sunscreen
- Step No. 2: Apply skin care products rich in antioxidants
- Step No. 3: Equip the mobile phone with a screen protector against blue light
- Action No. 4: Spend less time looking at screens
- Sources
Published February 5, 2024,
updated on February 15, 2024,
by
Stéphanie, PhD, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences
—
4 min read
Step No. 1: Use a physical sunscreen.
If you haven't already, start applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your skin daily, with at least an SPF 30. More specifically, choose a sunscreen containing a high concentration of physical/mineral sun filter such as zinc oxide or non-micronised titanium dioxide. Indeed, according to NOCERA T. and his team, chemical sun filters do not offer protection against blue light as they do not take into account the wavelengths of blue rays. On the other hand, inorganic sun filters offer significant protection in the visible range in addition to protection against UVA and UVB rays, but for this to be the case, the sunscreen must appear "white" on the skin.
A spectroscopic study in vitro assessing various inorganic sun protection agents even demonstrated that iron oxide was superior tozinc oxide and titanium dioxide in reducing visible light transmission.
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Step No. 2: Apply skin care products rich in antioxidants.
Beyond sunscreen, thetopical application of a skincare product containing antioxidants, such as vitamin C, resveratrol, vitamin E or ferulic acid, can also help to prevent and mitigate the effects of free radicals that can form following exposure to blue light. They will defend the skin against external threats conducive to ageing, such as the sun, smoking and pollution by neutralising free radicals. However, there is currently no definitive research suggesting which antioxidant is most effective in protecting the skin from the effects of blue light.
Step No. 3: Equip the mobile phone with a screen protector against blue light.
Although the amount of artificial blue light emitted when using electronic devices appears to be insufficient to cause skin damage compared to that of the sun, additional measures can be taken as a preventive measure.
While you may be familiar with blue light glasses to protect your eyes, there are also blue light screen protectors. These devices to be placed on screens can help to block or reduce the emission of blue light.
Some digital devices also have a setting called "night mode", which disables blue light in favour of yellow light. You can permanently activate this setting on your devices, which is much gentler on the eyes and can be a good way to prevent skin ageing. Also consider to reduce the brightness by 50% of the screens
Action No. 4: Spend less time looking at screens.
If you are concerned about the effects of blue light emitted by screens, even though further research is needed, the best way to prevent potential harmful effects on the skin is to reduce the time spent in front of a screen. Simple daily actions can help limit any exposure such as wearing headphones so that the phone cannot be directly against the face.
Sources
SADIQ I. & al. Physical sunscreens. Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (1990).
NOCERA T. & al. Protection afforded by sunscreens containing inorganic sunscreening agents against blue light sensitivity induced by aminolevulinic acid. Dermatological Surgery (2008).
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