Every time you binge-watch your favourite show on Netflix, attend virtual happy hours with your pals, jealously stalk your exes, turn on your computer to do work, or incessantly scroll through your IG feed, you’re exposed to blue light.
We hate to break it to you, but here’s the thing- as relaxing and satisfying as those dog jade rolling videos might be, increasing your screen time is doing no favours to your skin. Melasma, skin discolouration, pigmentation, collagen breakdown, and wrinkle formation are a few of the skin issues that might be a result of blue light, which is found in sun rays too. While switching your smartphone to night mode will help your case, including the right sunscreen formulas in your routine will only do more good and no harm. So if you spend less IRL time and more phone time – we’ve listed down how sunscreen can help arm your skin against blue light damage.
What Is Blue Light?
Light waves carry in different colours: every wave frequency corresponds to a specific colour, and each colour has its own effects. The screens of our phones, tablets, and computers emit blue light, which has harmful consequences for sleep, the skin, and mood. Its wavelength is slightly longer than ultraviolet light (UV, UVA, and UVB), and can penetrate deep layers of the skin, producing free radicals and inflammation which lead to brown spots and hyperpigmentation. Certain studies indicate that blue light also damages the eye’s retina, causing a chemical reaction that can be toxic for retinal cells.
How Does Sunscreen Arm Your Skin Against Blue Light Damage?
Mineral blockers with ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide form a physical shield over the skin. This helps in blocking blue light’s penetration.
How To Choose A Sunscreen Formula To Save Your Skin From Blue Light?
There are two types of sunscreens: chemical and physical. The critical difference between these types of sunscreens lies in how they block rays. Physical sunscreens create a physical barrier to UV rays while chemical filters absorb and scatter the spectrum, hence the original name, sunblock. Mineral sunscreens also known as physical sunscreen sit on the surface of your skin and act as a shield, while chemical sunscreens sink into your skin and act more like a sponge.
Mineral sunscreen is an SPF product consisting of active ingredients like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. The formula is designed to reflect UV rays and blue light away, so physical sunscreens do offer blue light protection. Chemical sunscreens are constructed with a variety of chemical ingredients that actually absorb UV light and may even irritate the skin. Chemical sunscreens do not provide blue light protection. In addition to that, look out for anti-oxidants such as vitamin C, E, and niacinamide in your sunscreen formula. These antioxidants help in lessening blue light’s fast-forward ageing effect on the skin.
But first, sunscreen!
Featured Image: Pexels
