Skin injury may result from blue light

A recent patient was an IT worker who was seeking therapy for dark to grey pigmented areas on her forehead, nose, and cheeks in addition to eyebrow thinning, puffiness beneath her eyes, and creases around her eyes. The child began working in the IT industry six months ago, at which point these issues arose. Her blood tests came back normal, and she had no health issues.

She had been spending 11 to 12 hours a day in front of her laptop or smartphone due to her lengthy work hours. She is not alone since these situations have become more common in recent years in terms of both incidence and frequency. Every day, at least 15 to 20 patients with comparable symptoms are seen in the majority of dermatological OPDs.

The skin is continuously exposed to blue light in our artificially lighted contemporary life because of the growing usage of computers, cellphones, and other electronic devices. Exposure to blue light not only damages skin health but also messes with sleep cycles and promotes dry eye condition. This exposure causes the skin to become hyperpigmented and speeds up the aging process.

This blue light may enter the skin deeper than UVA and UVB rays from the sun and has a wavelength that varies from 420 to 490 nm, depending on the source. It penetrates the skin’s outermost layer and damages the collagen and elastin fibers, which causes the skin to become less firm and develop early age spots.

This results in changes to the skin that include brownish and greyish pigmentation on the forehead, cheeks, nose, and beneath the eyes. Blue light damage may also manifest as swelling in the area around the eyes, early wrinkling and redness around the eyes, lines and wrinkles behind the eyes, deepening of the creases from the nose to the corners of the mouth, and drooping of the lower jowls. In addition to premature greying of hair, deepening of neck skin wrinkles, and thinning of eyebrows and eyelashes, many young patients who are overexposed to blue light also report these symptoms.

Studies reveal that skin cells exposed to blue light from electronics may experience alterations in their division and secretion patterns, as well as shrinking and death of individual cells. These hasten the process of aging. These alterations may be brought on by exposures as brief as sixty minutes.

Inflammation brought on by blue light may also result in redness, sensitivity, and irritation of the skin. Skin diseases including lupus, eczema, rosacea, and acne may worsen as a result of this inflammation. Even when they stay out of the sun and stay inside, people with lupus, rosacea, and photosensitive eczema may have rashes on their faces if they use screens for extended periods of time.

Blue light-induced pigmentation is often darker, more persistent, and more treatment-resistant than pigmentation caused by UV radiation from the sun. The effects on our Indian skin, which is typically dark, seldom burns, and tans quickly, are more noticeable.

Preventative actions

shielding the skin from blue Reducing light damage is essential to keeping skin healthy. A few of these precautions may be beneficial.

Take regular pauses from screens to reduce your exposure. Adhere to the 20-20-20 rule, which states that you should glance at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

Employ blue light-blocking eyewear, laptop shields, and blue light-filtering screens to help lower your exposure.

Use barrier creams or sunscreens with protection: These products may shield the skin from UVA, UVB, and blue light damage. They also include iron oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide. Apply often.

Consume a balanced diet: An antioxidant-rich diet may help scavenge free radicals and lessen the harm that blue light does to your skin and hair. Increase your intake of whole grains, almonds, green tea, and fruits and vegetables.

Vitamins C, E, and ferulic acid are included in skincare products and serums that shield skin from free radical damage. Early diagnosis is still the greatest defense, however.

How the harm is caused

Exposure to blue light may boost the skin’s generation of free radicals. The healthy skin cells are then attacked by free radicals, resulting in skin damage. Blue light has the ability to reach the skin’s deeper layers, where it may harm the proteins collagen and elastin, which give skin its strength, firmness, young appearance, and flexibility. Because skin loses its plump, voluminous integrity and becomes more prone to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, this damage accelerates aging, commonly known as photo-ageing. Excessive blue light also produces free radicals that damage the skin-cell barrier, resulting in decreased immunity and moisture retention.