Risk of blue light effects on your skin

Beware of the risks of blue light on your skin

Almost everyone is aware of the sun's UV rays and their effects on the skin, such as tanning, premature skin aging, pre-cancerous skin lesions, and skin malignancies, as well as how to protect themselves from these dangerous rays. We must all be aware of the long-term impacts of UV radiations, but there is now a new problem to add to this list i.e. blue light. Long exposures to this blue light can lead to DNA damage, cell and tissue death, injury, eye skin barrier damage, and even aging. In this article, we will cover the damages blue light has on our skin. 

Read | Best ayurvedic remedies to have a glowing and fair skin

What is blue light?

Blue light rays are the electromagnetic spectrum's short-wavelength, high-energy visible light rays. The wavelength is between 380 and 500nm. Due to their shorter wavelength, they can penetrate the skin to a depth of 1.5 mm and scatter more easily due to their high energy. Long-term exposure to blue light can cause serious skin damage.

Important sources

• Sun: The sun is the most important natural source of blue light. 
• Electronic Gadgets: It is emitted by smartphones, tablets, computers, and television screens. Certain wavelengths of blue light, at varying degrees of brightness, have been shown to produce skin changes. 

Pro Tip: Your posts on social media look great but the process of capturing and editing those selfies may negatively affect your skin. So before zooming in for a closer shot next time you must take care of the blue light filter.

Blue light effects on skin 

Blue light is responsible to generate reactive oxygen species that induce oxidative damage to the skin. According to preliminary studies, blue light can trigger the creation of free radicals, which break down collagen and create inflammation, resulting in:

• Redness, 
• Dark spots,
• Early wrinkles and premature skin aging,
• Sagging skin
• Too much blue light can also darken the skin tone.
• Hyperpigmentation, especially in people who are genetically predisposed to it.

Research confirms that blue light from electronic gadgets can cause changes in your skin cells, such as cell shrinkage. These hasten the aging process. These alterations can be triggered by exposures as short as 60 minutes. 

Read | Scientists found out a key enzyme that shows how exercise is effective for anti-aging

How to protect your skin from blue light?

1. Use sunscreen: Not all sunscreens offer blue light protection. It is best to use modern broad-spectrum sunscreens with improved nano-particles that provide better UVA, UVB, and visible light protection.

2. Antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid can be used in conjunction with sunscreen to increase its effectiveness.

3. If you spend most of your time working in front of a computer, use blue light screen protectors.

4. In the event of a cellphone or laptop, enable the night mode. It changes the blue light emission and converts it into yellow which is less harmful.

5. Try Oxy-Facials at your home to maintain and revive the under-skin cellular functions properly. 

6. To reduce digital eye strain, follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at anything 20 feet away.

7. Set up a good working distance and posture for screen viewing, and control the lighting and glare on the device screen.

8. For night lights, use faint red lights. Red light is less likely to disrupt the circadian cycle and decrease melatonin production. Avoid gazing at bright screens two to three hours before going to bed.

9. Consider using blue-blocking glasses or installing an app that filters the blue/green wavelength at night if you work a night shift or use a lot of electronic gadgets at night.

10. Allow yourself to be exposed to a lot of bright light during the day, which will improve your ability to sleep at night as well as your mood and alertness during the day.

Read | Skin Cancer- its causes, symptoms, types, and prevention methods

Blue Light Therapy 

The harmful effects of blue light emission can also be eradicated by Blue Light treatment. 

• Blue light treatment is a kind of light therapy that employs light to treat problems beneath the skin. It is a painless operation. 
• It is done by combining photosynthesizing medicines and high-intensity light sources. 
• The light employed is natural violet or blue light, and it is regarded as an alternative treatment.
• Blue light treatment is most typically used to cure sun damage and premalignant or malignant skin cancer growths, as well as other sorts of skin problems such as acne and scarring. It is also used to treat depression.

The Blue Light Therapy Procedure:

1.  It is done in a dark room with no leaks of light. Firstly the photosynthesizing medications are applied topically on the affected skin.  

2. The medication process is done for a few hours or days before the treatment to prepare the skin for therapy.

(Normally, Staying indoors and avoiding exposure to dust and sunshine is recommended.)

3. When your doctor provides the light treatment, they will first provide you with goggles to safeguard your eyes before applying light to the target region.

4. Treatment sessions can range from 15 to 90 minutes in length, depending on the size of the area that is affected.

But this skin treatment can also have a few side effects such as: 

• Immediately following treatment, the area may be red, puffy, sensitive, and somewhat bruised or blistered (Due to the application of medicine)
• A skin infection can become a risk if any post-treatment blisters emerge and are burst or untreated.

Ghar Ka Baidya is dedicated to provide you with all important information on latest developments, skin, hair and other beauty related topics. So, like & follow us on social media platforms. Share this post as much as you can so that we can provide you with such information more rapidly.