CosBeauty Magazine #80

Feature
Is Your
Phone
Giving
You
wrinkles?
Move over tech neck, there’s a new
problem in town. Screen face has arrived
and it’s affecting your skin in more ways
than you think. words by Maria leahy.
In recent years, our beloved digital
devices have been credited with
limiting our attention spans,
raising our anxiety levels and, perhaps
worst of all, ruining our beauty sleep.
But since this hasn’t been enough
to send us into a prolonged state
of digital detox, experts are now
suggesting our hand-held BFFs are
playing havoc with our skin.
High Energy Visible Light (HEV)
is the official name for the blue glare
that comes from phones, laptops and
tablets. Until now, researchers have
primarily been concerned with the
way blue light impacts the eyes; but
interest is growing in how HEV may
be affecting the skin, with emerging
data indicating that prolonged
exposure to blue light can accelerate
the visible ageing process.
HEV Light makes up the blue
portion of visible light in the
electromagnetic spectrum and is
a natural part of sunlight. Unlike
UVA and UVB light, blue light is
not linked to skin cancer, but it does
share UV’s potential for accelerating
free radical damage. When exposed
to free radicals, the proteins which
support the skin’s strength and
elasticity, collagen and elastin, grow
weak, which in turn gives fine lines
and wrinkles a chance to take hold.
Continuous exposure to HEV Light
also impairs the skin’s protective
barrier function, a situation that
can result in inflammation and
hyperpigmentation.
What can be done?
Since blue light penetrates deep into
the skin, sunscreen will not keep it
from damaging the complexion. With
this in mind, brands like Murad, Dr
Sebagh and Ocinium have become
focused on developing products
that include HEV Light protection.
The secret to existing blue light
resistant products is their antioxidant
ingredients, which help shield the
complexion from environmental
nasties and limit the extent to which
blue light can penetrate the skin.
Blue light filters are also available
for phone and laptop screens.
Switching your devices to night mode
can limit their blue light emissions
by counteracting HEV Light
with a yellow filter. Keeping your
phone away from you face by using
headphones when chatting is a simple
way to minimise blue light exposure.
Or, of course, ditching your device
altogether and creating a bit of digital
distance could do the trick.
Become body
aware
Unfortunately, blue light isn’t the
only issue at play when it comes to
screen-related skin ageing. While
54 www.cosbeauty.com.au