13 March How to protect your skin from blue light damage – everything you need to know.
How to protect your skin from blue light damage- everything you need to know.
The next time you snap a selfie, think twice. There are reports indicating that frequent exposure to the visible light spectrum of the selfie flashes may cause skin damage and accelerated skin ageing.
Recent studies have shown that blue light can potentially be harmful to the eyes and in turn, disrupt our sleep cycle, but our skin health is at risk as well. In our digital age, the constant exposure to blue light emitted by TV screens, laptops and other mobile devices can have both immediate and long-term effects. Just like UVA and UVB rays, blue light is believed to contribute to wrinkle formation and skin discoloration causing premature skin ageing.
Luckily, there are ways to learn more about its dangers and protect skin with Skin Bureaux products.
Firstly, what is blue light?
Blue light is the light found specifically within the blue portion of the visible-light spectrum. Its wavelength is slightly longer than ultraviolet light (UV, UVB, and UVA), and it has been shown to penetrate deeper into the skin than ultraviolet light does. While the majority of our exposure to blue light is caused by the sun, it’s also emitted by digital devices as well as LED bulbs from indoor lighting, which is used closer to people’s faces.
Your iPhone — along with tablets, laptops, and TV screens – radiate blue light. Certain waves of blue light in varying degrees of strength have been proven to cause changes in your skin.
What are the short-term effects on your health?
Research shows that natural exposure to blue light from sunlight can actually be healthy, as it improves alertness, memory and elevates your mood. However at night, it can disrupt your body’s circadian rhythm, making it harder to get a good night’s rest. Since it affects melatonin levels (your sleep hormone), it makes your body believe it’s actually daytime and impact your nightly renewal and repair processes.
What are the long-term effects on your skin?
It has been discovered that blue light can induce oxidative stress, which occurs when free radicals attack the body’s cells, accelerating the ageing process and causing damage to the skin cells. With exposure to blue light, the skin is prone to dryness and irritation, as well as a weakening of the skin’s protective barrier. Over time, this may lead to more permanent changes with dark spots, pigmentation, the collagen breakdown, and overall skin deterioration that is irreversible.
Recent studies aimed at investigating the effect of exposure to light emitted from electronic device on human skin cells, shows that even short exposures can increase the generation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent cell death.
The standardized TC fruit extract provided longer-lasting and more efficient neutralization of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than tocopherol; treatment of keratinocytes with the fruit extract prior to being stressed with urban dust safeguarded against increases in intracellular ROS, inhibited release of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 and protected membrane lipids against peroxidation.
How can you protect your skin against the damage?
While sunscreen is a crucial part of your daily routine, it doesn’t solely protect against blue light. Look for broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, antioxidants and vitamin C, which increases the absorption and protection against visible light and UVA radiation, which minimise damage from blue light as well as repair skin, making it a key in maintaining skin health.
The newest addition to Skin Bureaux range is our Super Defence Day Serum, which uses the powerful Terminalia Chebula Extract to help remove free radicals, bring balance and restore blood flow; whilst protecting from collagen and elastin loss for a healthier more youthful glow. Compared to other anti-oxidant’s this won hands down in terms of its antioxidant properties. With a vast improvement in patient self-assessments for skin texture, hydration, tone, firmness and radiance as compared to its placebo. Highlighting the use of this standardized TC fruit extract not only as a restorative to diminish visible signs of existing damage but also as a preventative to help defend skin against damages caused by chronic exposure to environmental pollution.
SUPER DEFENCE DAY SERUM >
Book a skin analysis to understand the best skin treatment programs for your skin and Skin Bureux products for your daily skin care routine.
