Obsessed with screens? Careful! It could speed up ageing
Screen time is an inevitable side effect of modern life, but what it does to skin health does not have to be. It is not as severe as UV radiation. Still, exposure to blue light every day through our phones and computers can accumulate over time and contribute to premature aging, pigmentation, and a dull complexion.
New Delhi: The vast majority of us spend hours a day in front of phones, laptops, and tablets. Though computer and phone screens help us stay connected, they also emit blue light, a type of high-energy visible (HEV) light. Blue light is one of the visible spectrum lights (approximately 400nm – 500 nm). The sun is the largest source, but man-made electronic gear — smartphones, computers, and LED lights — also spews it. Unlike UV, blue light does not burn you like the sun, but it still may affect your skin over time.
Dr. Sai Lahari Rachumallu, MBBS, MD(DVL), Associate Consultant, Manipal Hospital, Bhubaneswar, in an interaction with TV9 English, shared some shocking findings and explained how excessive screen time could cause ageing.
According to research, excessive exposure to blue light can:
- Accelerate aging by generating free radicals that harm collagen and elastin and result in fine lines and sagging.
- Lead to uneven skin tone: Most people with medium and darker skin tones, there is a likelihood that blue light can cause hyperpigmentation.
- Impairing skin repair and through sabotage of sleep, late-night screen time affects the body’s ability to naturally heal and rebuild during sleep.
"Since we use screens for many hours a day, the little blue-light bits here and there can accumulate and contribute to visible skin aging.”
Tips to protect skin:
- Use sunscreen every day and get one with iron oxides or tinted formulations, which block visible light.
- Using antioxidants in your skincare regimen, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, or niacinamide, will combat free radical damage.
- Apply device filters, such as enabling night mode, reducing brightness, or using blue-light-blocking screen protectors.
- Give yourself a break from the screen, adhere to the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds).
- Prioritise sleep and avoid screens at least 1 hour before bedtime for your skin’s overnight repair.
Screen time is an inevitable side effect of modern life, but what it does to skin health does not have to be. It is not as severe as UV radiation, but exposure to blue light every day via our phones and computers can add up over time and play a role in premature aging, pigmentation, and a dull complexion. By following the above-mentioned tips, you can help your skin stay healthy, youthful, and resilient in the digital age.