How does blue light from screens affect your skin?

The Blue light from screens is present in our daily routine. Televisions, computers, cell phones, tablets, and even LED lights emit this type of light. According to several studies, we spend on average about 6 hours a day in front of different screens. Knowing some of the problems that this prolonged exposure of the skin to this light can cause should be of interest to us.

What exactly is blue light?

The Blue light is part of visible light , the region of the electromagnetic spectrum that our eye is able to perceive. It is emitted by natural sources such as the sun and also by artificial sources, such as electronic devices. This visible light is made up of rays of different colors and blue makes up up to 40% of it. This type of light is the one with the shortest wavelength, that is, the one with the most energy , functioning as a small radiation. It has been shown that it affects our eyes, causing fatigue and visual stress, in addition to degenerating eyesight and can trigger lack of sleep. Many people use an anti-blue light filter in their glasses to protect themselves from this light, but… did you know that the skin can also be affected by it?

Blue light and skin problems

It is important to clarify that the blue light that comes from the sun is much more energetic than that from screens and devices. Even so, Dr. Marta Frieyro, Head of the Dermatology and Venereology Service at the Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital, points out that The more hours of exposure to blue light we add to our skin, the more its harmful effects will be noticed, so, in addition to protecting it from the sun's radiation, it is also important to protect it from that of screens and devices. More so, taking into account all the time we spend in front of them .

Among the various problems that blue light can cause is the premature appearance of signs of aging . This light spectrum destroys the collagen and elastin that our body naturally produces through the so-called oxidative stress, the main cause of skin aging. This happens due to the formation of free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules) that damage the skin during the process of absorbing blue radiation. To explain it in a simpler way, we could say that blue light penetrates the skin and causes real “holes” in the collagen. Thus, it can damage its structure decisively, causing it to lose elasticity, luminosity and firmness, directly influencing premature aging of our skin. Dermatologist Simon Zoakei, director of the London clinic Linia Skin, states that this problem is aggravated by intense and permanent exposure, like what almost all of us do in our daily lives .

Did you know that prolonged exposure to blue light increases skin dryness by decreasing aquaporins (molecules that are responsible for maintaining hydration)? Blue light can also alter the production of melanocytes, responsible for skin pigmentation, which can cause spots on the face. These stains are longer lasting than those that appear due to the well-known ultraviolet light .

Still, it is important to note that the damage is not the same for all skin types. In a 2010 study published in The Journal of Investigative Dermatology , Blue light has been shown to cause hyperpigmentation in medium to dark skin tone, while leaving lighter complexions relatively intact . Therefore, those with darker skin tone should pay greater attention to protection against blue light from screens. In addition, pregnant women and people undergoing some type of skin treatment should also protect themselves more from the effects of this type of light due to the sensitivity of their skin at that time .

How to avoid blue light damage

The simplest intervention is to limit the amount of blue light that your devices emit and the time you expose yourself to them , but this will not always be possible for work or, simply, for leisure reasons. Therefore, we need the help of products that protect our skin . However, since they have a different wavelength than ultraviolet light, conventional sun protection factor creams are not suitable for this task .

We should look for other options such as sunscreens that contain iron oxide, zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which are the reference standard in protection against blue light. If you don't have any, here are a few products that contain some of these ingredients.

Our selection to protect your skin from blue light

Évolve's Hydrate & protect facial cream . An antioxidant and illuminating fluid facial cream. It is absorbed quickly and does not leave a greasy residue on the skin. Protects the skin from blue light, infrared ultraviolet light and pollution. Made with squalene of plant origin. We recommend it if you spend many hours in front of your cell phone, computer and/or tablet and also have normal/combination and dehydrated skin.

Pai Skincare 's British Summer Time Sensitive Sunscreen SPF30 is used like regular sunscreen, but it is not. It can be applied to the face and body and is for all skin types, even the most sensitive. In addition to protecting against blue light from screens, it also protects against solar radiation, so you can wear it both at home and outside . With this cream you don't have to worry about that whitish finish that other sun protection filters leave behind due to its ultra-light texture, matte finish and non-greasy texture. It only contains a mineral filter and it is physical: zinc oxide (not nano).

Sunscreen SPF30 British Summer Time Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 30

If you have combination or oily skin, and are looking for something very fluid, with complete protection to use directly on clean skin, we recommend Urban Feel Good by Seventy One Percent .

If you have dry skin, we recommend Mádara Sunscreen SPF50 with hyaluronic acid and plant stem cells . These ingredients intensely hydrate your skin without the need to combine this product with another cream (unless you have very dry skin). If your skin is combination or oily, you can try Odacité 's Sun Guardian SPF30 Regenerating Facial Cream , which, with its fluid texture, helps achieve a matte finish on the face, but at the same time does not dry out thanks to its moisturizing aloe content. vera and calendula. To complement this protection or if you want to skip a step in your morning routine, we recommend the Super Serum Skin Tint SPF30 Makeup Base from Ilia Beauty , a product that fuses care, sun protection and color. This medium coverage foundation smoothes fine lines and imperfections, while protecting your face from UVA, UVB, UVC, blue light and infrared rays.

Super Serum Skin Tint SPF30

 

Another option, to also simplify your facial routine, the Ilia Triple Serum with niacinamide and SPF30.

If it seems strange to put on sunscreen to be at home or you just want to seal your makeup, you can use the Ilia Beauty Blue Light Mist Facial Spray , which hydrates, sets the makeup and works as protection, becoming a 3 in 1. It contains antioxidants that help control the free radicals generated by blue light, making it a good substitute for mineral protectors. You can keep it on your desk to refresh your skin as you spend hours in front of the computer.

Blue Light Mist Protective Facial Spray

It is difficult to be less exposed to screens, but we can always protect ourselves with the appropriate products and thus avoid problems derived from all the time we spend on our electronic devices.