Your tablet, smartphone, laptop and flat screen TV all have one thing in common: They each give off blue light. Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum. It has the shortest wavelength and highest energy.
Research shows blue light from electronic devices can lead to changes in your skin cells, including cell shrinkage and death. These speed up the aging process. Even exposures as short as 60 minutes can trigger these changes. Too much blue light could also lead to pigmentation.
Although it can negatively impact your skin when used in certain ways, blue light also has healing properties. The HEV wavelength has an antimicrobial effect and is often used as an FDA-approved acne treatment due to its scientifically proven ability to kill the P. acnes bacteria known to cause acne.
How to Protect Your Skin from Blue Light Damage
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and not only prevent damage, but repair it, too. Incorporating a good antioxidant serum into your skincare regimen as well as an antioxidant rich diet will help prevent cell breakdown and DNA damage. Lowering the brightness level on your screens to 50 percent or switching to the darker "Night Shift" setting can also help prevent skin damage.