CosBeauty Magazine #80

Feature
postural problems and shoulder pain
are among tech neck’s most frequently
discussed symptoms, constantly
looking down at your screen also
creates the perfect environment for
neck wrinkle formation.
As New York dermatologist
Dr Jeanette Graf told Elle: ‘The
horizontal creases on the neck have a
lot to do with positioning. The more
movement, the more you’re going
to reinforce the way those lines are
falling. If you’re going to always be
on your phone, it’s best to bring it eye
level, rather than looking downward.’
Stress is another factor that
can be linked to both phone use
and skin health. According to the
American Psychological Association’s
2017 Stress in America survey,
almost 20 per cent of Americans cite
the use of technology as a ‘very or
somewhat significant source of stress’.
Just as constantly furrowing your brow
can create future lines, ‘smart
phone scowl’ could lead to facial
tension and, in turn, premature
ageing. CBM
References: Blue light study:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/
articles/PMC4337113/
Elle: https://www.elle.com/beauty/
news/a43443/neck-wrinkles-phoneposture/
Stress in America: http://www.apa.
org/news/press/releases/stress/2017/
technology-social-media.PDF
Cosmopolitan: https://www.
cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/
beauty/how-to/a11048/is-yoursmartphone-causing-acne/
Acne: https://www.allure.com/story/
phone-ruining-skin
Contact Dermatitis: https://home.
liebertpub.com/publications/
pediatric-allergy-immunology-andpulmonology/48
More
than just
fine lines
Unfortunately, our hand-held
friends can mess with our
complexions in more ways than
one. If you suffer from breakouts
or contact dermatitis, your phone
could be to blame.
Acne
Our phones have become our
technological shadows, coming with
us everywhere we go. This includes
some less than hygienic places
like the bus and the bathroom,
which means our devices are often
covered in germs. Bacteria is one of
the main causes of acne.
As New York-based dermatologist
Debra Jaliman told Cosmopolitan,
‘when you hold your phone up to
your face…there is a mechanical
stimulation (the pressure against
the oil glands) that triggers them
to produce more oil…Then, the
bacteria from the screen – and the
heat that it gives off that breeds
more bacteria – mixes together and
results in a blemish.’
Contact Dermatitis
Believe it or not, it is possible
to be allergic to your phone.
According to a study published in
the Pediatric Allergy, Immunology,
and Pulmonology journal, using a
phone for 30 minutes or more
every day can increase the risk of
allergic contact dermatitis (ACD)
for those with nickel, cobalt and
chromium allergies. Because
chromium and nickel are found in
phone cases, covering your mobile
and its screen with a plastic case
and screen protector can prevent
the itchy rash that accompanies
ACD from forming.
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