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Safeguard your skin from screen time

On average, Brits spend 2 hours and 34 minutes on their smartphones every day. With all the additional Netflix and Zoom calls, many of us have only found our screen time increasing while in lockdown.

What’s more, with summer now in full swing, many of us are being exposed to blue light rays not only from our screens but also sunlight.

So, what is blue light, and could it be damaging our skin?

"Blue light is the spectrum of light emitted from the sun as well as digital devices such as mobile phones and computer screens" says Dr Jinah Yoo, Consultant Dermatologist at sk:n.

"What many people don’t realise, is this light is very close in wavelength to ultraviolet (UV) light, which can potentially cause long-term damage to our skin."

Dr Jinah Yoo explains exactly what the effects of blue light and extended screen time can have on our skin.

What is blue light?

The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) rays, the effects of which are well known to our skin, for both good and Fire & Ice – Resurfacing (browse this site) bad reasons. Whilst UV rays help in boosting vitamin D production, they can also be harmful by causing skin cancer, skin ageing and hyperpigmentation.

Many people don’t realise is that UV actually only accounts for 3-5% of sunlight reaching the earth and the sun actually emits a range of lights, including visible light. Visible light accounts for 43% of all sunlight and has a longer wavelength than UV which means it is able to penetrate deeper in the skin. Blue light is within this visible light range.

Aside from the sunlight, blue light is also released from the digital screens of phones, tablets, TV or computer as well as fluorescent and LED lighting.

Is the damage from blue light similar to the damage caused by UVA and UVB rays/sunlight?

As blue light has longer wavelengths and penetrates deeper than UVA and UVB rays, it damages collagen and elastin which provide support to the skin. Research studies have confirmed that hyperpigmentation is more significant with blue light compared to UVB and cause more prolonged hyperpigmentation compared to UVA.

Does blue light from looking at a screen cause skin pigmentation?

The full extent of the effects of blue light emitted from tablets and phone screens on skin cells requires more research, however one lab-based study has shown increased free radical production from as little as 1-hour of screen exposure. These free radicals can contribute to skin ageing and hyperpigmentation, meaning an increased number of hours spent on digital devices at close proximity to the face could potentially have long-term effects on our skin. However, this theory was not supported in a recent study when blue light exposed directly to melasma skin did not worsen their pigmentation. Further studies are needed to look at the cumulative long-term effects of blue light from tablet or phone screens.

Can blue light age the skin?

There are no studies on real human skin that directly look at the effect of blue light on skin ageing, such as wrinkle formation or reduced elasticity. However, what we know from laboratory-based studies using skin cells, is that blue light increases the production of free radicals and enzymes which break down proteins such as collagen, weakening the skin structure. Based on these changes, we can assume that it can potentially lead to skin ageing.

Are there any other side effects caused from too much blue light?