Impact of blue light on skin health and a natural substance that combats its adverse effects
Hittingthe digital age hard, the blue light menace on your mug is a hot topic as more research is focusing on how this type of light impacts our overall health, skin in particular.
Pretty much every device we touch like smartphones, computers, and tablets are pumping out the high-energy, short-wavelength light called blue light. With screen time and smartphone ownership only going up across the globe, it's concerning. Studies show that excessive exposure to blue light can lead to eye strain, sleep disturbances and, more worryingly, skin issues1.
While some exposure to natural blue light is healthy for our circadian rhythm, excess exposure can be bad news. That's why cosmetic companies are scrambling to come up with solutions targeting the blue light effect on skin2.
It's all about regulating our circadian rhythm and understanding the science behind the effects of blue light on our health.
The Breakdown on Blue Light Exposure
Known as "high-energy, short-wavelength light" within the visible light spectrum, blue light has a wavelength between 380 and 500 nanometers1. It's emitted by both natural and artificial light sources like the sun, light bulbs, LEDs, televisions, and smartphones. Because of its unique properties and increasing daily use, research is everywhere, focusing on the impact of blue light on our overall health and skin particularly1.
Two key areas of science research on blue light as it relates to human health are:
- The impact on our circadian rhythms. Blue light is responsible for regulating our natural sleep cycle. During the day, it helps keep us awake and alert. However, exposure to blue light at night can wreak havoc on our sleep cycles and overall sleep quality134
- The effect on our eyes. Though studies are limited, there's some evidence that overexposure to blue light can lead to issues such as apoptosis (cell death) and oxidative damage in the cornea and increased production of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) in human corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells12
Skin Issues from Blue Light Exposure
Understanding the mechanism of action behind the blue light effect on our skin is essential for understanding the impact. Because of its shorter wavelength, blue light doesn't penetrate deeply into our skin like red or infrared light1. However, it can still penetrate the upper layers of the skin and trigger a series of issues, including premature aging, hyperpigmentation, inflammation, disruption of skin regeneration processes, and barrier function impairment1.
To neutralize the blue light effect on your skin, cosmetic companies are turning to ingredients like Zinc Oxide, Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid, Niacinamide, and antioxidants like Matcha Green Tea3. Good luck, mug! Embrace the products, because your skin needs all the help it can get in the digital age.
Sources
- Boundless Cosmetic Testing Whitepaper
- Lockley, Steel, Thapan, Chen, Brown & Sack, 2003
- Rüger et al., 2012
- Lee et al., 2016
- Mahmoud et al., 2010
In the realm of health-and-wellness, the science community is investigating the effects of blue light on skin care, particularly its active ingredients and potential formulations that could neutralize the blue light effect on the skin. To counteract the issues such as premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and inflammation that blue light can cause in the upper layers of the skin, cosmetic companies are turning to ingredients like Zinc Oxide, Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid, Niacinamide, and antioxidants like Matcha Green Tea.
