In the last decade, our reliance on technology has grown in leaps and bounds. It’s where we get the latest news, it’s how we interact with friends and family, it’s our source of instant information, and it’s a great way to keep ourselves entertained.
And while having a device on-and makes things a lot more convenient, technology has other, more insidious effects that we are only beginning to understand. With the findings about device-related eye strain, shoulder pain, wrist fatigue, and back aches, it seems more and more plausible that our body could be suffering from the prolonged time we spend online.
Recently, people have started to wonder how screen time can affect the largest organ of our body: the skin. It has yet to be proven, but based on our understanding about the human skin and how it reacts to light, there could be some logic behind the worry.
Why screen light is potentially harmful for the skin
The light reflecting on our skin as we stare at our phones, our laptops, or our TVs emanates from light-emitting diodes within the device--that’s what we know as “LED”. The colors we see are varied depending on what we are watching, but our electronics are known to have peak emission within 400-490 nanometers.
This is well within the range of what is known as the “blue light” or “high energy visible light”. It’s the range of light radiation that we can see that is closest to ultraviolet light, which many of us are familiar with as a leading cause of skin photodamage and skin cancers.
There have been studies showing that blue light can cause hyperpigmentation and oxidative stress on the skin, but it is important to realize that the blue light they talk about comes from the sun. Let’s be clear: basking in the light of a screen is nowhere near as harmful as unprotected sun exposure.
But given the amount of time we spend on our devices and how close they are to our face, there is some worry that it could have some effect on our skin in the long run.
The two-sided effects of blue light on the skin
Blue light encompasses a range of wavelengths. Research shows that effects on the body differ depending where on that range the light falls. One study found that at 462nm, blue light reduces oxidative damage in the skin and promotes faster wound healing, but at 447 nm, it increases oxidative damage. Another study found that administration of 415 nm blue light via LED increased skin hyperpigmentation through activating pathways related to melanin production.
While it may be tempting to generate a blanket statement that long-length blue light is good and short-length blue light is bad, it is important to realize that exposure time plays a role. Short exposure times to 420 nm blue light regularly can help control acne-causing bacteria in mild to moderate cases. This has also been used as a supportive treatment for atopic dermatitis and eczema, to varying degrees of success.
Conclusion
Generally, it seems that low-energy blue light and controlled exposure time to high-energy blue light is safe and beneficial to the skin. But the question remains: does chronic exposure to blue light from devices lead to skin issues?
The jury is still out on that one. It may be challenging to prove, but the interest in this topic may lead to more conclusive evidence in the future.
For now, it is prudent to control your screen time--if not for your skin, for the rest of your body and your mental health! It’s always a good idea to intersperse your feed scrolling marathons to stretch your legs, rest your eyes, try out new hobbies, or socialize with people in person (with safety protocols, of course!).
This content is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice.
Resources:
Coats, JG, Maktabi, B, Abou-Dahech, MS, Baki, G. Blue Light Protection, Part I—Effects of blue light on the skin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021; 20: 714– 717. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.13837
Gold, M. H., Andriessen, A., Biron, J., & Andriessen, H. (2009). Clinical Efficacy of Self-applied Blue Light Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate Facial Acne. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 2(3), 44–50.
Saint-Auret, Gaëlle & Kiening, Martin & Haguet, Vincent & Sullerot, Mélissa & Escaich, Séverine & Ramchurn, Rachel. (2018). The double nature of blue light on skin dependent pathways.
Sorbellini, E., Rucco, M., & Rinaldi, F. (2018). Photodynamic and photobiological effects of light-emitting diode (LED) therapy in dermatological disease: an update. Lasers in medical science, 33(7), 1431–1439. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-018-2584-8
Tosini, Gianluca & Ferguson, Ian & Tsubota, Kazuo. (2016). Effects of blue light on the circadian system and eye physiology. Molecular Vision. 22. 61-72.
