You can find a lot of creams and sprays in the health and beauty aisle of any store.
There are companies that claim their products can protect you from blue light. If you hadn't thought about blue light before, you wouldn't be worried about it.
Understanding what blue light is the first thing you have to do.
The only part of light that can be seen by the human eye is visible light. The visible spectrum has a blue band.
Less energy is transmitted by the wavelength. The blue light has high energy waves.
You are surrounded by blue light. The sun is shining. Light bulbs, mobile phones, computer screens, and flat screen TVs also do.
Evidence shows that blue light can have a negative effect on the skin and eyes. Usually, studies looking at the impact of sun radiation on the skin focus on UVB, which causes sunburn.
The most common effect of blue light exposure is an increase in reactive oxygen species. Your risk of cancer is increased if you have too much ROS.
Our research shows that blue light can cause wrinkling. A deep tan is a sign of skin damage and ROS. The researchers found that the darker the skin tan, the longer it lasts.
Blue light can cause inflammation and photoaging. Studies have shown that typical sunscreens don't prevent light damage.
The amount of blue light that reaches the Earth may account for the less potent blue light. In the summer, UVR accounts for 5 percent of the sun's rays in the UK. The blue light makes up 15 percent.
Blue light has some benefits. It has been used to treat a wide range of skin conditions, including Eczema, and it has also been used to boost wound healing. Blue light can be harmful to healthy people.
It's not clear which sources of blue light are harmful to human beings. The blue light from screens is not as powerful as we'd like it to be. There is research that shows screens from devices can increase ROS production.
A week's worth of exposure to blue light from a screen at a distance of 30 cm is equivalent to one minute of midday summer sun in Germany.
Blue light from screens was less intense than blue light from the sun. It didn't cause melasma in patients who have the condition.
It's true that we are spending more time in front of screens than ever before, but it's not as damaging as sun exposure.
Blue light damage can be prevented with a range of skincare products. There is no test to assess a product's ability to stop blue light damage.
Scientific testing is carried out on these products. They can use any assessment they want. SPF testing is regulated by the ISO. Every product that claims to contain an SPF undergoes the same testing regime.
Consumers can't make informed choices about the level of protection offered because of the lack of regulation.
The lack of regulation is not likely to be dangerous for consumers.
It is worth applying skepticism to any claims that a product is needed to prevent damage to your phone or computer screen.
Blue light damage is not typically protected by traditional photo protection products. This need is being addressed by the skincare industry. Governments need to take the next step in the process and develop standardized testing.
Limit your exposure to the sun in the meantime. SPF rated sunscreens have been shown to prevent skin cancer and photoaging, and blue light protection may give an additional benefit.
Karl Lawrence is a researcher at King's College.
Under a Creative Commons license, this article is re-posted. The original article is worth a read.
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