Can Skin Care Really Fight The Effects Of Blue Light? What You Need To Know
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By TESSA SOMBERG
Blue light is a short, high-energy wavelength slightly weaker than UV light, mainly sourced by the sun but also emitted from anything LED, including our screens.
Dermatologists use FDA-approved blue-light therapy to treat precancerous growths, acne scars, and inflammation, but experts warn that long-term exposure could be detrimental.
This warning has prompted many new protective skincare products, but it's unclear if they are effective, or if cosmetics companies are capitalizing on the perception.
Studies by the journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity show that blue light can cause DNA damage, photoaging, and free radicals in human skin over long exposures.
Skincare products promising to "neutralize free radicals caused by blue light" will not block blue light from reaching the skin, but they could mitigate some of its effects.
If you want to be conscious about protecting the skin from blue light, opt for mineral-based sunscreens containing iron oxides and zinc oxide.
Minimizing your time on your screens, or at least turning down their brightness, is the best protection against prolonged exposure to blue light.