Are you afraid of premature aging and other skin issues like dark circles? Premature aging is because of prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB rays that the sun emits. But it is an old theory because nowadays, people stay less in the sun compared with their phones. Our phones are the lesser know yet main reasons for our skin issues like premature aging, and dark circles. You may be astonished by this statement, thinking that how phone usage causes dark circles. But trust us, it is true! Let’s see how.
Our brain releases a hormone called melatonin which is responsible for sleep. The pineal gland in the brain releases this hormone during the night. In the morning due to the complete exposure to sunlight, the brain is habituated to daylight. When we are using any electronic devices we are exposed to blue light, the blue light emits similar energy as UV rays. So, our brain thinks that it is day and suppresses the formation of melatonin. This reduces sleep and causes dark circles. Basically, the blue light that our phone emits is the major reason for skin issues. The blue light from the phone emits the same ultraviolet rays as our sun does. Let’s see more about what is blue light, how it damages our skin, and how to protect our skin.
Also Read: Relation Between Eyes And Sleep
What Is Blue Light?
Sun emits electromagnetic energy as light. Light has many many wavelengths and frequencies. These wavelengths and frequencies are categorized based on their range. In this spectrum, the wavelength ranges from 2 nanometers to 10 meters. X-rays are the shortest in this spectrum with 2nm and radio waves are the longest with 10 m wavelengths. In this spectrum, our naked eye can see the spectrum with wavelengths ranging from 380 to 700 meters. This region is normally known as visible light also known as VIBGYOR. Blue light is what our electronic devices like phones, tablets, laptops, and computers emit.
In this visible spectrum, the color with a shorter wavelength has a long frequency which means it emits high energy. The blue color has a short wavelength which means it emits high energy. The wavelength of blue color is 460 – 500nm and the wavelength of UVA is 315 – 400nm, and UVB is 280 -315nm. The blue light our electronic devices emits has a frequency greater than the UV rays. Besides, we are getting exposed to these rays all over the day. Just think how harmful it causes to our skin. Let’s see the harmful effects.
What Are The Harmful Effects Of Blue Light?
As mentioned earlier, blue light has a short wavelength and high frequency. With high frequency, any spectrum can emit huge energy. There is a link between eye damage and short-wavelength blue light. The light used in many LEDs, smartphones, TVs, and tablets has a wavelength between 400 nm to 490 nm.
Blue light helps regulate the circadian rhythm or wake-and-sleep cycle. But watching TV and scrolling through social media on mobiles or smartphones too late at night can have the opposite effect. The blue light stimulates your brain, slowing or stopping the release of the sleep hormone melatonin. Slowing melatonin makes it harder to get a good night’s sleep.
Also See: Best Ways to Cure Insomnia Without Medication
How To Protect Skin From Blue Light?
The perfect solution to this issue is to spend less time in front of screens. It is difficult for many who have computer-based jobs. Also, no one can avoid the blue light completely, but there are ways to limit the exposure which include:
- Limiting screen time
- Use blue screen filters to lower exposure
- Wearing blue-light-blocking glasses, yellow-tinted computer glasses, or glasses with anti-reflective lenses
- Wear blue-light blocking glasses to protect the eyes and surrounding skin around the eyes
- Keep night mode enabled on all the devices at all times to reduce blue light
- Sunscreen is the best protector against photo-aging and skin damage. Because the sun is the main source of light and radiation.
By reading this, you may get an idea of how blue light affects our skin and eye light. Always use a blue light filter if you have to use any electronic device late at night.