Today, everyone understands that protecting your skin from harmful UV rays when you’re outside is very important. Not only to stave off skin cancer but to also prevent premature aging of the skin. Most skin care fans will apply sun protection before venturing outside.
But there’s a hidden danger – blue light exposure
A recent study by Unilever showed that 64% of people don’t know that blue light or high-energy visible (HEV) light exposure can have a negative effect on your skin. More importantly, the study revealed that 60% of people are spending more than six hours in front of some type of digital device. If you spent six hours in the sun, you’d likely be very cautious about protecting your skin. But when sitting in front of their tablet or phone, few people think about their overall exposure to HEV blue light bombarding their skin.
Blue light exposure seems low. It takes about five days of exposure to equal about 25 minutes of unprotected midday sun exposure. But considering many of us spend six to twelve hours per day, every day, in front of computer screens, laptops, tablets, and phones – seven days a week, nearly every day of the year, there’s reason for concern. This constant flood of even the faintest blue light can lead to skin issues.
Blue light exposure can prompt the formation of free radicals, which break down collagen and cause inflammation, leading to redness, dark spots, and wrinkles.
Unilever’s report indicates that “Blue light can penetrate the skin far deeper than UV light, passing through the epidermis and dermis to the subcutis layer.” Blue light exposure emitted from screens can lead to immediate and long-term pigmentation issues. Further, blue light also increases stress hormone levels and excites nerves and when used at night can disrupt circadian rhythms which leads to even more production of stress hormones. The study indicated that exposure to 30 hours of blue light can increase skin inflammation levels in skin cells by up to 40%. And inflamed skin is more reactive skin – and is more prone to problems, outbreaks, and premature aging.
More and more dermatologists caution that blue light exposure can “prompt the formation of free radicals, which break down collagen and cause inflammation, leading to redness, dark spots, and wrinkles.” Moreover, it can worsen or help progress hyperpigmentation.
Fortunately, broad spectrum SPF products, especially those that feature zinc oxide, can help to ameliorate blue light exposure while skin care products rich in antioxidants can help mitigate the cumulative deleterious effects. Potent and proven antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Niacinamide have shown to help reduce the effects of oxidative stress.
Obviously, reducing or limiting your exposure to blue light (including the HEV emitted by the sun) is the best method of improving blue light inflammation and damage. But in today’s digital world it’s almost impossible to avoid blue light exposure altogether. So, the best course of action is to apply sun protection every day and to include a combination of antioxidants in your skin care routine.
Reviva Labs’ Antioxidant Day Creme combines six potent antioxidants in a soothing and nourishing day cream. It features Alpha Lipoic Acid, CoQ10, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Niacinamide, Resveratrol, and Green Tea and other skin beneficial ingredients. When combined with Reviva’s SPF 30 Sun Protective Moisturizer you have a powerful duo to avoid or improve the nasty effects of long-term blue light exposure.
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None of us realize how much we’re exposed to blue light. Every screen we sit in front of bathes our skin in this “weak” but pervasive light. It’s a relatively new phenomena but it’s one that will likely start to take a toll on all of us in the coming years.