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Do you think only sunlight can mess with your skin? Enter the blue light from laptops and mobile devices! They can play sneaky tricks on both your skin and eye health. Let us decode the effects of blue light on skin health and give you some tips to protect your skin from it.

What exactly is blue light?

There are different wavelengths of light, each with different hues. There are many kinds of light (apart from blue), namely orange, red, violet, red, green, yellow, etc. There are both artificial and synthetic sources of blue light. The natural source of blue light is sunlight, whereas artificial sources include LED lights from incandescent bulbs, computer screens, cameras, smartphones, traffic lights, television, and smart watches.

How does blue light impact your skin health?

Let us see some of the effects of blue light on skin health:

• High-intensity blue lights can penetrate skin much more than UVA and UVB rays. It can also affect the skin’s epidermis. Over time, increased exposure can increase the risk of developing fine lines and wrinkles.
• The secretion of melatonin can be compromised due to blue light exposure, which can result in difficulty falling asleep.
• Exposure to blue light can trigger free radical production, which can induce skin damage. 
• Oxidative stress can cause skin pigmentation, melasma, or dark blotches on the skin, as blue light can interfere with melanocytes.

How to reduce damage from blue light? 

The best way to reduce damage from blue light is to reduce exposure to it. Let us look at some preventive measures for the same.

• Take a 5-minute break every 30 minutes you are on your laptop or phone. 
• You can also use blue light screen filters or screen protectors for your devices.
• You can substitute headphones for phones to listen to music or to talk to someone to further reduce exposure.
• Switch off all electronic devices 1-2 hours before bedtime. Avoid scrolling late at night.
• Use night mode on phones and night light on laptops to reduce blue light exposure.

What are some screen skincare tips?

Let us look at some skincare tips to minimize damage from blue light exposure:

1. Make sure to wear sunscreen. Even though many sunscreens are not able to protect against blue light, antioxidants present in sunscreens can help protect against free radicals. Our Sunkissed sunscreen can be beneficial in these regards.
2. Consume a diet rich in antioxidants, especially fresh fruits and vegetables.
3. Make sure to cleanse, exfoliate (exfoliate once or twice a week), and moisturize.
4. Do not press your phone against your cheek for too long (especially for long calls). Our phone harbors enough bacteria that can trigger breakouts.
5. Keep the electronic device’s screen at least 16-20 inches away from your face.
6. Apply eye cream to reduce eye puffiness if you have been looking at the screen for too long.

So the next time you are busy scrolling through Instagram, remember that your skin is getting affected by that blue light, too. However, do not stress! Just follow the above tips and keep your skin beautiful and glowing.