Spending hours upon hours staring at screens-from your laptop for all that work you need to get done to social media on your smartphone to binge-watching TV shows-is unavoidable in today's digital age. Though screen time is part of modern life, it is important to think about how long-term exposure to screens might impact your skin. In this blog, Dr Vedant Ghuse- a leading skin doctor in Chembur explains in detail about how screen time may be affecting your skin.
The primary factor that has emerged in the dispute over screen time and skin is blue light. All screens from mobile phones to tablets, laptops, and even TVs- emit blue light. It is one of the growing concerns most dermatologists have today. People know about the harmful sun rays that damage skin, but early skin ageing is also caused by blue light as well.
It has been proven by several studies that blue light penetrates more into the skin compared to UV rays, and it might reach the dermis where it can adversely affect the elastin and collagen fibres. The damage caused by them results in signs of ageing- rather, wrinkles, along with fine lines and sagging skin. Moreover, increasing periods of constant blue light exposure may cause pigmentation, which can eventually lead to dark spots and hyperpigmentation formation.
Overuse of the screen also causes various conditions of the skin, such as acne. Although it is reported that most cases of acne are caused by blue light, the physical aspect of holding a phone or resting your chin on your hand when using a laptop can also cause acne. This has been termed as acne mechanica which is one of the forms of breakouts resulting from pressure, friction, and heat from prolonged friction with the skin.
Also, the frequent touching of gadgets in the course of the day can easily transfer bacteria, dirt, and oils from your hands to your face. The elements clog pores and cause acne.
Long hours spent in front of a screen can also cause digital dehydration. Since we tend to blink less while concentrating on the screens, there will also be lower moisture levels within the eyes and skin. It causes dryness and irritation and makes for a dull, tired-looking complexion.
Secondly, screen light causes dehydration in a person as it disrupts the skin's moisture-retaining ability. The skin may be flaky, rougher, and more sensitive.
Interference with the sleep pattern is another direct impact of screen time on the skin. The blue light prevents people from producing melatonin, which regulates sleep at night, once it gets past midnight.
Without getting proper sleep, the body increases its production of cortisol, which is the stress hormone. This leads to inflammation, hence further exacerbating skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Other causes of lack of sleep results in dullness, puffy eyes, and dark circles under the eyes due to the loss of self-healing properties of the skin.
There are ways, though, to reduce the impact of screen time on your skin.
While screen time is unavoidable, it is good to be careful about how much of it will affect your skin. Overexposure leads one to risk having blue light damage, acne breakouts, dryness, and even sleep disruption. However, Dr Vedant Ghuse- the best dermatologist in Chembur suggests that actions like protecting your skin from blue light, drinking plenty of water, and cleaning your devices, can help minimise the damage and make your skin appear healthy and glowing. After all, your skin needs the same amount of care and attention as does your digital life.