How Unconsciously We’re Damaging Our Skin…

How Unconsciously We're

Damaging Our Skin...

Staring at mobile and computer screens for hours is damaging to our eyesight, can disturb our sleep patterns and reduce concentration levels. But did you know that the blue light emitting from the screen can also take a toll on our skin? Constantly checking your phone can lead to sagging skin, drooping jowls and creases above your clavicle bone. Such symptoms are visible in people as young as 18 year old. Repeated downward stares at your smartphone and squinting to read can also cause crow’s feet.

All of these combined together to make you look older than you really are. According to a research, blue light emitted from tablets, laptops and smartphones are as harmful as UV light. So, here at OneHOWTO, we will tell you how to protect skin against technology.

How Technology can damage the skin

How does technology affect our skin?

Phone and computer screens emit high-energy visible light (HEV) that can be quite damaging to our skin. It causes premature aging the same way as UV light from the sun do. 

Constant exposure to this light causes increased production of skin pigmentation, leading to blemishes and dark spots. This means you should not only stay away from the sun, but also from your electronic screens. So, in order to protect your skin from harmful HEV light, you should wear a good sunscreen even when inside. Make sure that your skincare routine is rich in antioxidants that are helpful in repairing any skin damage.

This blue light also interferes with sleeping patterns. It slows down melatonin production which is responsible for making you sleepy. As a result, when you become sleep deprived, dark circles start appearing on your face and you look older and more tired. Chronic sleep deprivation and insomnia are also linked to a number of skin problems, such as: skin aging, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. In order to improve your sleep quality, avoid using your computer, tablet, laptop or phone at least a hour before going to bed. Try to relax by listening to some soft music or meditating.

By spending hours each day staring at your phone, your eyes become fatigued and strained forcing you to squint more in order to see.

How Technology can damage the skin

Squinting is one of the major factors that contribute to the formation of wrinkles and fine lines around your eyes. Apart from that, mobile phones are extremely dirty. According to studies, they have even more bacteria and germs than toilet bowls and chopping boards. Every time you use your smartphone, it collects germs from the environment. 

Think about how many times you take your phone to the toilet, or when you touched it while eating or with dirty hands. All of this can add to skin breakouts and the formation of pimples.

The technology is not limited to smartphones, computers and laptops. It extends to air conditioners as well. With an attempt to cool the air down, these machines suck out moisture from the air. Dry air can easily dry out skin. When your skin is excessively dry, it becomes irritated and flaky and tends to age faster. In order to calm your irritated skin, keep it moisturized at all times. Use the moisturizer that contains high amount of Vitamin C, antioxidants and protective ingredients against these elements like this moisturizer…

Ways to keep your skin protected from the effects of technology

Here are a few ways in which you can keep your skin protected from the negative effects of technology:

• Make antioxidants a part of your daily life: HEV light can penetrate into your skin and weaken its elastin and collagen content. Applying some topical antioxidant onto your skin will prevent free radical damage and keep your skin protected against the HEV light emitting from your digital devices. A serum rich in antioxidants will be your best tool in this battle, especially those having vitamin C, ferulic acid, phloretin. Make sure that your moisturizer contains antioxidants: in order to energize your skin cells.

• Change your device settings: Certain settings in your devices allow you to tone down the blue light emitted from the screens. You can turn the brightness down so that the light is softer and doesn’t harm your eyes and skin too much. If you need to spend all day on your computer or laptop, this minor tweak can make a big difference. 

• Invest in sunscreen: Most normal sunscreens offer sufficient protection against HEV light emitted from digital devices, but these days, companies are manufacturing sunscreens that specialize in providing protection from HEV. They have specialist ingredients like botanical extracts and mineral UV filters, which aim in minimizing aging effects of over-exposure to screens.

• Include copper peptides to boost collagen: Both UV and HEV lights are damaging to the structural proteins of the skin, thus causing wrinkles and sagging. You can repair this damage by applying some copper peptide-based serum. It will boost the collagen production in the lower layers of your skin. Daily application may also help out with uneven skin tone.

• Avoid using your phone in the sun: When you are outside and if the weather is sunny, try to avoid using your phone at all costs. The UV rays from the sun coupled with the HEV light emitting from your device: can cause extensive damage to your skin cells.

• Avoid phone contact with face: Since phones are super dirty, you should try keep the screen clean as much as possible. You may use an anti-bacterial wipes to sterilize it at least once everyday. Instead of keeping your phone near your face while calling, try to use earphones. Also keep your skin clean by treating it with salicylic acid everyday. This acid fights acne and removes bacteria buildup from your skin.

• Avoid over-exposure to screens: HEV rays emitting from computer and phone screens can cause pigmentation, age spots and skin irritation, especially if you sit in front of the computer for long hours. Computer screen creates an electrostatic field around it which is able to attract floating dust quickly. This dust can settle down on your skin, cause dryness and lead to irritation and allergies. As a result, screen dermatitis occurs caused due to over-exposure to electromagnetic fields and light. These screens also emit heat that is damaging to your skin. The best possible solution is to take regular breaks while working on a screen, even if it is just a short walk to grab a glass of water.

• Exercise your face: When you squint, frown and stare at the screen for long periods of time, your chances of developing fine lines, frown lines, wrinkles, deep wrinkles, crow’s feet, turkey neck, jowls and other signs of aging, accelerates. After a long day of work at the office in front of a computer screen, you can minimize the damage by exercising your facial muscles. Take regular breaks from staring at your screen and move the muscles by smiling, laughing, yawning or chatting with colleagues.
  My input is that by doing simple things we can protect our health and our skin. Especially our skin – the outermost layer of our body- is constantly is in contact of germs and bacteria including environmental harsh elements that are not friendly to our skin.
   
  So cleansing your skin TWO times a day a crucial for a healthy and radiant skin… You must use the cleanser and skincare products that are not only free of harmful chemicals BUT also contained antioxidant and nourishing ingredients that are essential for skin health.

  By Nidhi Nangia. Updated: September 9, 2018

Curated from How Technology Damaging Our Skin...