We spend an average of 3.5 hours a day on our smartphone. Depending on your job and hobby, there are even more hours on digital screens. But the blue light that shines at us from our displays and screens literally gets under our skin – even deeper than the sun’s rays. As a result, our skin ages faster. Our beauty expert Rolf Stehr reveals what you can do to prevent skin aging caused by screen radiation.
Digital aging: The most important things in brief
- Displays and screens that “illuminate” us with blue light all day make our skin age faster. More
- The Blue Light radiation goes deeper under the skin than sunbeams. More
- Sun protection filters and sunscreen only protect against UVA and UVB rays, but not against blue light radiation. More
- With the right combination of device settings, skin care and nutrition, the consequences of blue light aging can be minimized. To the tips
Sun, wind and weather, but also bad living and eating habits can leave unsightly marks on our face. But what many people don’t know: Even in closed rooms, protected from external weather influences, our skin is exposed to so-called “blue light aging” or “digital aging” through all the screens and displays.
Was ist Blue Light?
Blue light is scientifically called high energy visible light (HEV light). This is a highly energetic, visible light that is emitted by digital screens, smartphones, tablets, PCs and also by televisions. With a wavelength of 380 to 500 nanometers, it penetrates deeper into the skin than the UVA and UVB rays of the sun.
How harmful is blue light?
Although blue light does not cause sunburn or skin cancer, the light from screens forms free radicals in our skin and thus accelerates the natural aging of the skin. Free radicals, also known as oxidative stress , attack collagen and elastin in our skin. These fibers are an important part of the connective tissue and responsible for the elasticity of our skin. By damaging these fibres, Blue light can cause premature formation of wrinkles and a loss of elasticity, which is mainly visible in the chin and cheek area.
In addition, the oxidative stress weakens the natural protective barrier of the skin and the skin then reacts more sensitively and more susceptible to external influences.
How can I protect my skin from digital aging?
1 The right device setting : With a few simple steps, smartphones, computers and tablets can now be set not only to be more “skin-friendly” but also easier on the eyes. With a Mac, for example, you can download the “f.lux” program or reduce radiation with the “Night mode” option on “Windows”. You can download free apps like “Twilight” or “Night Screen” for smartphones. With the iPhone, you can activate the “Night Shift” mode with an integrated blue light filter.
2 With the right diet: Your diet has an impact on digital aging. The magic word here is “antioxidants”. They prevent cell damage and protect the structural proteins collagen and elastin from free radicals.
A diet rich in antioxidants therefore not only prevents skin aging caused by blue light, it also ensures an overall biochemical balance in your body and thus generally reduces the risk of disease. High levels of antioxidants can be found in avocados , tomatoes , broccoli, blueberries and citrus fruits as well as in various nuts.
The good news for all those with a sweet tooth: Dark chocolate also contains large amounts of antioxidants!
3 With the right skin care: active ingredients that act against free radicals caused by blue light radiation are mainly found in so-called secondary plant substances. These are active ingredients with which the plant also protects itself from the entire light spectrum. These include, for example, squalane, which is obtained from olive oil, as well as stem cells or fruit extracts from various flowers and fruits. The latest research has also found that the Japanese brown alga builds up preventive protection against frequency and radiation damage.
Products that contain vitamins C and E in particular offer a very high level of protection against free radicals. If you sit at the PC for several hours a day, a so-called vitamin serum is recommended as day care. But the composition of the day care can also have a preventative effect against skin aging caused by blue light. When it comes to the ingredients, look out for vegetable oils such as hemp seed oil, olive oil and jojoba oil, as they strengthen your skin’s protection against oxidative stress.
Sunscreen also helps reduce stress on your skin. A classic light protection or sun protection filter cannot filter blue light rays, but protects your skin from additional free radicals caused by UVA rays.
This is how you protect yourself against free radicals
In short: A serum with vitamin components and a cream based on hemp seed oil and vitamin E, for example, are a perfect combination against too much screen light. Together with a balancing BB cream with a sun protection filter against UVA rays, you protect your face most effectively free radicals.
If you now enjoy a fresh tomato salad with an avocado and wholemeal bread for lunch and treat yourself to a small dark chocolate dessert with a few nuts, you have completed the absolute “Anti Blue Light Aging” program and have less to worry about yours make skin age.
