From Zoom meetings, to classes on Teams, to online shopping and binge watching. We have all been there as Covid-19 brings life to a hiatus but our screen times to a steep rise which has had damaging effects on our wellbeing
Even before COVID-19, the amount of time we spent in front of screens has been increasing by double digits every year, and experts have been warning us about the consequences to our health. So, the more screen time we undergo, the more artificial blue light we are exposed to which is disastrous for our skin.
Blue Light
Any light you see, whether it is from the sun, a screen, or a light bulb, it contains blue light. Our bodies require blue light (and natural blue light from the sun is very good for us), as it tells us that it’s daytime and time for us to be up and awake. However nowadays, we get artificial blue light even after the sun sets, and this delays the release of melatonin, a hormone produced in response to darkness that helps your body prepare for deep sleep. Moreover blue light contributes to brown spots on the skin and hyperpigmentation such as melasma, and possibly to photoaging and the breakdown of collagen, which leads to wrinkles and skin laxity.
How to Protest Yourself
Sunscreen to the rescue
Sunlight and the light from electronic devices reach skin both in and out, so it’s important to guard your skin even if you’re indoors most of the day. SPF’s aid in improving your skin’s hyper-pigmentation prevents premature aging, and now, protects your skin barrier from blue light absorption. The beauty brands are launching sunscreens that effectively block the blue light and protect the skin from its radiations.
Increase the usage of antioxidants
Antioxidants are known for defending skin from all the blue light exposure. The more exposure the quicker the antioxidants deplete. Moreover, another healthy component to block its negative effect is the consumption of vitamin C. Having enough Vitamin C in your diet can also effectively protect our skin and bodies from inflammation as it balances free radicals keeping the skin intact to withstand the damages of air pollutants.
Reduce screen time
As easy as it sounds, this is the most difficult thing to do. This pandemic had us all glued to our screens, be it YouTube, Netflix, or any other social media platform. Apply the 20-20-20 rule, where one looks at an object that is 20 feet away for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes. If you cannot then don`t worry. Try using protective shields to reduce the blue light emitted from your phone and computer screens.
