The pandemic has had a ripple effect on almost every aspect of society – including potential impacts on our skin.
A report from Ofcom revealed that the average person spent more than 40 per cent of the waking day on their phone during lockdown, and as we’ve reached dark and cold nights, more time is being spent indoors again using technology.
But being glued to our phones can have negative impacts on our skin, and can accelerate the ageing process, thanks to the ‘blue light’ they emit.
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And stress and anxiety brought about by lockdown and the pandemic also won’t be doing any favours for your skin.
Dr Olivier Amar, leading cosmetic surgeon and CMO of Uvence, explains how overexposure to blue light can inhibit our ability to look after our skin – the body’s largest organ.
What does blue light do?
When we use digital devices such as phones and laptops, we are exposed to what is called ‘blue light’.
Overexposure to blue light is bad for our skin, and with the rise of technology over the past decade, we are experiencing more blue light exposure than we used to.
This particularly applies to the younger generation who tend to use their phones more frequently than other age groups.
It is no surprise that during the pandemic, screen time also skyrocketed due to the Zoom boom and reliance on technology to connect with each other, which has increased blue light exposure across the board.
Lots of people use devices in the evening, which can disturb our sleeping patterns as blue light exposure suppresses the body’s release of melatonin – the hormone which makes us feel drowsy.
During sleep, our bodies undergo vital processes of reparation and restoration, which includes repairing damaged skin cells. Excessive exposure to blue light can therefore inhibit our body’s ability to enter its reparation mode, which directly affects the quality of our skin.
Studies also show blue light can induce oxidative stress in the skin, which can contribute to ageing like UVA rays.
However blue light can penetrate deeper into the skin, all the way to our collagen – the main structural protein found in tissue.
Do we have to be looking at screens for a certain amount per day for it to have an impact?
We don’t just use screens for work and professional use, but also during our downtime to connect with friends and family.
Although it can therefore be difficult to significantly cut the amount of time we spend looking at screens, I would recommend setting a limit on the amount of time you spend on devices, as oxidative stress in our skin cells can occur after as little as one hour of exposure.
Is it worse to be using our phones in the dark?
Whilst many people are aware that screen time and blue light can negatively impact the quality of sleep – especially when we use our phones just before bed – what is less known is how a lack of sleep has a direct impact on our skin.
When we sleep, our bodies restore themselves, which includes processes such as repairing damaged cells and rebuilding collagen in the skin.
Therefore, when we have broken sleep or a lack of sleep altogether, this can lead to symptoms such as fine lines, swollen eyelids, and dark undereye circles.
As blue light exposure suppresses the body’s release of melatonin – the hormone which makes us feel drowsy – this can therefore inhibit our body’s ability to enter its reparation mode which directly affects the quality of our skin.
Is it a fairly new discovery?
When it comes to the long-term effects of any health-related concerns, professionals become more aware and knowledgeable over time.
The boom in technology and consequent increase in screen time over the last 20 years has made blue light a more pressing concern when it comes to skin quality, and is still relatively new to the industry.
What can people do to protect their skin from blue light?
If we try to limit our amount screen time we will be exposed to less blue light, and this will help ensure that we get a better night’s sleep which in turn benefits the skin.
I recommended switching your phone to dark mode as this helps to reduce blue light exposure, especially before bed.
Should people be wearing SPF indoors to combat this?
The blue light exposure from screens is not as intense as it is from the sun, and so it is not as vital to wear SPF indoors to protect the skin compared to when we are directly exposed to the sun.
However, this can still cause damage to the skin, and so for individuals who spend significantly long hours on their devices, there are products in the market that can help.
Not all sunscreens and SPFs protect against blue light, so make sure you find one that does.
How does stress affect the skin?
Feelings of stress have become increasingly common over the course of the pandemic, which in turn can impact the quality of our skin.
While stress affects everyone differently, visible signs can range from blemishes and acne in the short-term, to premature wrinkles if experienced over a prolonged period of time.
Dr Amar added: “Since the beginning of the pandemic, practitioners and surgeons in the cosmetic industry have noticed a spike in patient demand for treatments, with one of the most common concerns amongst my patients is skin texture.
“This increasing interest is from existing patients as well as individuals who have never previously considered cosmetic procedures before.
“Post-lockdown, myself and my peers in the industry have seen a surge in interest when it comes to skin rejuvenating treatments, such as PRP and Uvence, as lots of people feel that the past 18 months has had an adverse effect on the quality of their skin due to stress and ageing.”
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