Is Blue Light From Your Smartphone Affecting Your Skin?

How does blue light impact our skin?

“Unfortunately, light in its various forms can affect the skin in many ways. Blue light (which can be emitted from many sources ranging from the sun, computers, laptops, smartphones, fluorescent lighting and LED lighting) has been shown to produce oxidative stress in the skin. Oxidative stress can dehydrate cells, cause inflammation and chronic skin complaints, and even lead to skin cancer. Blue light can also contribute to brown spots on the skin, hyperpigmentation, photoaging and the breakdown of collagen, which can increase the visible signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles.”

Why does blue light have this effect on our skin?

“The proliferation of electronics with screens, as well as energy-efficient lighting, is increasing our exposure to blue wavelengths (especially after sundown). Essentially, blue light exposure at night can impact the natural circadian rhythm of skin cells because it tricks our bodies into thinking it is daytime. Therefore, you might not get the regenerative sleep your skin requires. Sleep is the time when your body repairs itself, including the skin – your skin’s blood flow increases, and the organ rebuilds its collagen and repairs damage from UV exposure (reducing wrinkles and age spots). If your circadian rhythm is out of balance, it can lead to skin ageing, increasing free radicals, changes in cell DNA and even cell death.”

How can we protect our skin from blue light?

“Treating skin damage caused by blue light needs to start with counteracting the free radical damage. This can be done by increasing the antioxidant levels in the body. Foods such as fruit, vegetables, nuts and meat are all excellent sources of antioxidants and regular consumption will balance free radical production in the body and help to reduce the damage to your skin. The more you can build up antioxidant protection through nutrition, the more you’ll counteract free radical damage, leading to healthier cells. While building up antioxidant levels in the body will help, you can support it in the future by what you put on the skin. For the average person, there’s no way to completely avoid blue light exposure, so I recommend strengthening and protecting skin cells to minimise the damage that can lead to premature ageing and dehydrated skin.”

Would you recommend cutting down screen time?

“Some people simply can’t due to work or other responsibilities, but if you can, look to reducing your screen time, even if only gradually. Research shows that blue light can start having an adverse effect on the skin even with exposures as short as 60 minutes (eek!). So it is almost impossible to avoid, but the more you minimise, the better!”

Are there any products that can help to minimise skin damage?

“As mentioned earlier, it’s almost impossible to avoid blue light completely, but you can work towards strengthening and protecting your skin cells from it. To do this, I recommend introducing a protective serum into your regime, like Biologi’s Bg Defence Anti-Pollution Serum. This is a really unique formula that has extracted the goodness from the leaf of Strawberry Gum to provide a protective shield from environmental pollution, shield skin from blue light, fight free radical damage and assist with increased hydration. What’s more, Biologi’s Bg Defence Anti-Pollution Serum contains the unique phytoactive combination of vitamin C, B3 niacinamide and salicylic acid – an unheard-of combination in traditional skincare to boost skin glow and improve the texture of the skin, all while protecting and shielding your skin from environmental aggressors.”