Is Blue Light Damaging Your Skin?

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For years now we have been drilled on the damaging effect of UV light on our skin, but what about the blue light emitted from cell phones and other electronic devices?

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A post shared by Claire Calvert (@make_up_by_claire123) on Jul 5, 2018 at 12:59am PDT

Say hello to “Screen Face” – the terminology the beauty industry is using for possible aging effects caused by blue light. According to Beauty Crew not only does high energy visible (HEV) light – otherwise known as blue light – have the potential to cause free radical damage like UV rays, it also can penetrate deeper into the skin, which leaves many sunscreens unable to block it. Thanks to our dependence on our cell-phones, tablets and laptops it’s nearly impossible to avoid being exposed to blue light.
Fortunately, blue light itself does not contribute to skin cancer like solar UV radiation does, but it does have the possibility of causing hyperpigmentation and could cause premature aging, according to Dove dermatologist Dr. Alicia Barba.
So what can we do to protect our skin everyday from the effects of blue light? Firstly you can cover your cell phone with a blue light screen shield. Failing that make sure you hold your phone at arms length and not directly in front of your face. Many tablets and phones also have a night mode option, which disables blue light and turns on yellow light. Laptops and computer screens should also be fitted with a blue light screen shield.

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A post shared by baxter blue (@baxterblue_) on Aug 5, 2018 at 11:49pm PDT

The delicate area around the eyes can be protected through the use of specially designed sunglasses that block blue light. Not only do they protect the eyes and skin from the damaging effects of HEV light, they may also aid in helping us fall asleep at night.
When it comes to skin care we should all, by now, be using a daily moisturizer with an SPF included. If you spend a lot of time in front of a screen everyday consider purchasing a good moisturizer that specialises in blue light damage reduction, such as the Le Defense Urban Protect line from Luzern, or Murad’s City Skin.