In the past, most of our worries about premature aging and skin cancer stemmed from the damaging UVA and UVB rays from the sun. But over the past decade, scientists have learned that these may not be the only rays of visible light people need to be concerned about. Blue light — emitted by both the sun and digital devices — could be wreaking havoc on skin health.
“The trend of blue-light blocking in skin care, and wellness in general, is increasing because we are all exposed to blue light more now with the use of smartphones and tablets,” says Nazanin Saedi, MD, the director of the Jefferson Laser Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology Center in Philadelphia.
What Is Blue Light, Anyway?
“Blue light is a portion of the visible light spectrum (380 to 500 nanometers) that is contained in sunlight, but it is also given off by indoor lighting [and] common electronic devices, like computer screens and smartphones,” says Jason Bloom, MD, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Bloom Facial Plastic Surgery in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
Most of the blue light people are exposed to comes from the sun, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. But considering that, per Nielsen data published in July 2018, the average American spends more than 11 hours per day interacting on digital media, people are now exposed to significantly more blue light than previous generations — which is why it’s becoming more of a concern. And that figure has likely only increased, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic shift toward online activities — think work-from-home Zoom calls, virtual happy hours, and the latest Netflix series drop.
“The amount of high-energy visible light or blue light given off by devices is only a fraction of that given off by the sun, but the problem is that we are constantly spending time on and carrying around these devices and keeping them close to our face and heads,” explains Dr. Bloom. So, if you’ve noticed your screen time has gone up, you may be wondering about the effect on your health. Read more
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