“Is My Phone Damaging My Skin?”
Is it true that the blue light from screens can damage your skin? How serious is this, and is there anything I can do to protect myself?
Blue light is one of the wavelengths in visible light, and it can have effects on your skin: ageing, pigmentation, damage to your collagen and elastin levels. The amount of blue light from your screen isn’t as damaging to your skin as direct sunlight, but you do have to think about the cumulative impact of your screen time. As an example, there have been reports of people developing pigmentation on the side of the face they hold their mobile phone upon.
Fortunately, the industry is aware of this and there are various blocking devices available for phones and laptops, such as blue light filters, that you can download.
You can also protect your skin by wearing sunscreen if you’re going to be sitting in front of your laptop for hours – but it has to contain zinc oxide or iron oxide. Alternatively you could simply put on a light layer of foundation – that will help.
Answer provided by dermatologist Dr Shyamalar Gunatheesan, founder of ODE Dermatology in Melbourne