Does blue light harm our skin?

Today, we are constantly and ubiquitously exposed to blue light from electronic devices: browsing Instagram on a cell phone screen, at office work on a laptop, or watching a movie on TV in the evening.

Apparently, this light is supposed to cause a so-called “screen face”. The term is used to describe a face that shows signs of skin aging due to blue radiation. Marianne Meli (39) is the dermatology and venereal medical director at the Dermanence dermatology clinic in Zurich. He explains this phenomenon as follows: “Blue light can have both positive and negative effects on the skin. Here it depends on the intensity, exposure time and wavelength.» Blue light is even used therapeutically for acne as it can have an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and sebum-regulating effect.

Does blue light accelerate skin aging?

According to Meli, a general distinction should be made between natural blue light produced in sunlight and artificially produced blue light from electronic devices. “Current studies show that the low radiation dose of artificial blue light from electronic devices is not sufficient to damage the skin,” explains the expert. However, it has been scientifically proven that prolonged exposure to high-energy blue light, such as that found in sunlight, causes oxidative stress in the skin. According to the dermatologist, this stress accelerates skin aging and increases hyperpigmentation. However, the exact mechanisms still need to be investigated further.
Natural sunlight consists of a spectrum of different wavelengths. Among other things, visible light, to which blue light belongs. “Visible light accounts for about 50 percent of solar radiation, and one-third of that is blue light. The amount of blue light from laptops, cell phones, and the like is negligible compared to blue light in sunlight,” explains Meli. Our protection from blue light is much more important than the blue light from electronic devices.

Optimal protection for the skin

According to Meli, as with UV protection, the most important thing in blue light is not to stay in the sun for too long and not during intense stress between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.
When it comes to sunscreen, tinted sunscreens with physical filters are said to help with blue light. “Chemical filters don’t offer good protection there. But some sunscreens with chemical filters also have active ingredients that neutralize blue light,” says Meli. A product containing light-reflecting pigments, such as makeup, foundation or BB cream, can also be applied separately from physical sun protection.