According to the experts, you should stay away from UVA and UVB rays emitted by the sun to keep your skin looking supple, smooth, and youthful. However, as research continues, data shows that there is another source of skin damage, blue light.

What Is Blue Light?

Also known as High Energy Visible light, blue light is a high-energy and short-wavelength light. It is one of the many colors in the spectrum of visible light. While it should not be confused with either UVA or UVB rays, a lot of the blue light we are exposed to is from the sun.

You also get significant exposure from the screens of our gadgets, plus indoor lighting. With a lot of people using their phones and computers for the better part of the day, there is an increase in the blue light exposure we get from screens that from the sun.

Is Blue Light Bad For Your Skin?

Some of the health issues linked to blue light exposure include glaucoma, cataracts, eye strain, and other eye complications. However, since you get exposed to it from the sun, just like UVA and UVB rays which damage the skin, is blue light bad for your skin?

The answer is yes. However, just like how sun damages the skin, blue light affects your skin instantly.

How Does Blue Light Damage Skin?

As technology in the skincare industry increases, one of the methods a lot of doctors are using to eliminate acne and actinic keratosis is blue light therapy. If it proves to have good results on the skin, how does does blue light damage skin? Researchers have pointed out some of the ways that blue light causes damage to the skin, including:

Premature aging

This is one of the most common ways blue light affects your skin. It causes aging is by inducing oxidative stress in the skin. That has the same effect as UVA rays, which are common for causing premature aging. However, blue light could cause more damage to the skin because it penetrated deeper into the skin than UVA or UVB rays.

Experts have found that blue light could penetrate deep into the dermis, where our skin elastin and collagen are. That results in a loss of firmness in the skin, which results in wrinkles and fine lines. Blue light also causes changes in the cells of the skin, which includes shrinkage and death, which hastens the aging process.

Pigmentation

Experts have determined that blue light exposure causes more redness, swelling, and pigment changes, especially in people with darker skin tones. Dermatologists have also established that blue light triggers skin conditions like melasma, which stimulates the skin to produce more pigment.

While some of the effects of blue light on the skin are direct, others are not. Blue light exposure, especially at night, makes it hard for us to sleep. That is because it affects our sleep hormone, called melatonin. Lack of enough sleep could cause your skin to look dry, saggy, and swollen, especially under the eyes (eye bags).

How To Prevent Blue Light Damage On The Skin

Unlike when protecting yourself from UVA and UVB rays where you only need protection outdoors, you need to protect yourself both indoors and outdoors to prevent damage from blue light. That is because of the exposure from your screen and indoor lighting. Some of the things you need to do to prevent blue light skin damage include:

Make your screens friendlier

One of the fastest things you might think about to address skin damage is changing your skincare routine. While it is one of the ways to protect yourself, you need to first address the cause of the problem, which is your gadgets.

You can improve your blue light protection by activating the night mode on your phone. That reduces the amount of blue light your gadget emits. Consider using that mode all the time, and not only at night. You can also buy a blue light screen shield, which blocks blue light from getting to you.

While using your computer or phone, have it around 12 inches away from you to prevent the blue light from getting to your skin. You should also take breaks while using any of the screens to reduce the time of exposure.

Your Best Protection: Skincare

One of the best ways to prevent blue light damage on your skin is by boosting your antioxidants levels. The skin contains natural antioxidants like vitamin E, but they are used up when your skin gets exposed to free radicals from things like pollution, UV rays, and blue light.

One of the ways to increase antioxidants levels is to apply it topically. That helps combat the oxidative stress caused by blue light, which results in premature aging. One of the best products to use as part of your skincare routine is the Japanese Tsubaki Anti-aging Oil.

It is a powerful antioxidant that contains vitamin E and several essential oils, which help keep your skin looking smooth and youthful.

You can also use the Rose Water Hydrating Mist Toner, which also contains natural antioxidants and anti-aging properties.

You can use both of these products to protect your skin from blue light damage or to reverse effects that have already happened.

You can use these products either in your nighttime routine or in the morning before applying your makeup. The skin absorbs the antioxidants in them, which helps prevent damage caused by oxidative stress.

You can also increase your levels of antioxidants by including more antioxidant-rich foods like kale, raspberries, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, spinach, and potatoes.

Another skincare routine you can use is wearing sunscreen and BB cream, even when in the house.

Sunscreen creates a barrier that prevents the blue light from penetrating your skin, especially those with zinc oxide. BB cream has a light-reflecting pigment which reduces blue light effect on skin by up to 80%.

When you notice any signs of blue light damage on your skin, it is important to consult your doctor or dermatologist before changing your skincare and using new products.

hat is because, while some of the effects might come from the blue light exposure, some might have other underlying causes. Also, the doctor tests your skin and recommends the right products to use to avoid more damage and irritation by using the wrong products.