You’ve likely gotten the message that it’s essential to wear your sunscreen when you hit the beach, the slopes or even the highway, but should you also be slathering it on when you check your emails, shop on Amazon, or scan Facebook or Instagram?
Surprisingly enough, the answer is maybe.
New research suggests that the blue light emitted from our digital devices does more than affect our vision and sleep patterns, it may also wreak havoc on our complexions, causing (or worsening) pigment problems and/or fine lines and wrinkles.
The good news is that one risk not associated with blue light exposure is skin cancer, because unlike the sun’s ultraviolet A and B rays, blue light doesn’t appear to cause the genetic changes that lead to skin cancer, nor does it cause reddening or swelling of the skin.
Instead, a small yet growing body of evidence suggests that exposure to blue light (A.K.A high-energy visible light or HEV) weakens our skin’s barrier function, accelerating aging. It tends to go deep, striking our collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid supply. These are the all-important substances that give our skin the elasticity and supple properties associated with youth. (If the name hyaluronic acid sounds familiar, it’s because many of today’s top-selling wrinkle-filling injectables are composed of this molecule.)
Blue light also targets the formation of melanin (the pigment that gives skin, hair and eyes color.) One study in Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research showed that blue-violet light induced a significantly more pronounced hyperpigmentation that lasted up to three months compared with ultraviolet light.
What to do?
To stave off the effects of blue light on our skin, many sunscreens, foundations and other cosmetics now boast HEV blockers. There’s even an ingredient (Liposhield) that, when added to moisturizing creams and lotions, sunscreens and the like, will protect the skin from damaging HEV light.
Melanin
If you are noticing brown spots or other skin discoloration and tend to spend a lot of time in front of your devices, check out one of the many products designed to block blue light and/or talk to your dermatologist about what else could be causing the pigment problems, and what you can do to address them.
Certain physical blockers in sunscreens such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide can also protect against HEV light, so if you’re already using them, you are ahead of the curve. Just make sure they offer broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection, have an SPF of 30 or higher, and are water resistant.
Follow this advice and you should be good to go… online.