If you are serious about keeping your skin healthy as you age and protecting it from environmental aggressors, you probably already know the importance of sunscreen. You possibly also have a common knowledge of UVB and UVA rays. What you may be less familiar with is blue light and its impact on the skin. At Skin Health Experts, we are passionate about helping you maintain Healthy Skin. In this blog, we reveal what blue light is, its impact on skin, and how to protect yourself from its deeply penetrating rays.
What is blue light?
Sunlight generates all types of light, including UV, infrared, and visible. Half of the solar spectrum is made up of visible light. The extra half is made up of infrared and UV light. The blue/violet band of the visible spectrum is known as high-energy visible light or HEV light.
Light is measured in wavelengths. Ultraviolet A (UVA) is composed of wavelengths from 320 to 400 nm (nanometers). Ultraviolet B (UVB) wavelengths are between 280 and 320 nm. And blue light is composed of wavelengths from 380 to 500 nm. These wavelength measurements correlate with how deep each can penetrate the skin. UVB rays, which have shorter wavelengths, are absorbed by the epidermis or the upper layer of the skin.
These are the rays responsible for sunburn and some forms of skin cancer, including malignant melanoma. UVA rays are absorbed by the dermis or the middle layer of the skin. UVA rays are responsible for the premature aging of your skin, causing wrinkles, age spots, and the formation of certain cancers. Blue light has the longest wavelength and is known to penetrate the hypodermis or the deepest layer of skin.
How blue light affects the skin
Emerging research reveals that blue light can cause oxidative damage, which can accelerate cellular aging (Blue Light Induces Mitochondrial DNA damage & free radical production in epithelial cells). Exposure to blue light also creates free radicals while decreasing antioxidants. You must also use goat milk products to stay moisturized all day along.
Blue light is also generated by electronic devices
Blue light is not only created by the sun. It is also generated by electronic devices, including computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets, which makes it all the more influential on skin appearance and skin health.
Think about how much time you spend in front of a computer, on your smartphone, or any other electronic device each day. Hours and hours, right? These electronic devices continually produce blue light, which quickens photoaging. Whether you are indoors or outdoors, your skin is exposed to it and potentially damaged. So how do you best protect your skin from the harmful effects of blue light? Enter your daily sunscreen. Yes, that lotion or spray you pack on beach days is actually an essential step in your daily defense against premature signs of aging.
But not all sunscreens protect against blue light. This inorganic sunscreen is skillfully made with non-nano zinc oxide to safeguard against harmful, aging blue light. It also contains a ceramide complex that strengthens and restores the skin. In addition, the formula helps protect the from UVA and UVB rays. This lotion-based SPF 40 sunscreen product like goat milk soap works well under makeup as the last step in your morning skincare routine and can be reapplied every few hours to maintain that blue light protection.
While blue light research and studies are relatively new, as health experts, we are on a mission to keep you informed and educated. Our positions are based on medical and scientific research, and we will continue to share relevant peer-reviewed reviews and published studies as they emerge.
