%Begin Is Blue Light Harming Your Skin Health Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Skin & Beauty
News
Is Blue Light Harming Your Skin Health
Studies suggest blue light from cellphones and computer screens can cause eye-strain, but it’s less clear how tech time may be affecting your complexion. By Leah GrothMedically Reviewed by Ross Radusky, MDNovember 8, 2021Medically ReviewedIf you live with your phone in your hand, there's a chance the blue light may be affecting your skin.
thumb_upLike (30)
commentReply (0)
shareShare
visibility213 views
thumb_up30 likes
J
Julia Zhang Member
access_time
8 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
More research is needed.iStockIn the past, most worries about premature aging and skin cancer stemmed from the damaging UVA and UVB rays emitted by the sun. But over the past decade, scientists have learned that these may not be the only rays of visible light people need to be concerned about.
thumb_upLike (17)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up17 likes
comment
3 replies
E
Emma Wilson 6 minutes ago
Blue light — emitted by both the sun and digital devices — could be wreaking havoc on your skin ...
C
Chloe Santos 2 minutes ago
“[Blue light] is thought to penetrate deeper into the skin than UV light but fortunately is not as...
Blue light — emitted by both the sun and digital devices — could be wreaking havoc on your skin health. “The trend of blue-light blocking in skin care and wellness in general is increasing because we are all exposed to blue light more now with the use of smartphones and tablets,” says Nazanin Saedi, MD, the department co-chair of the laser and aesthetics surgery center at Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting in Pennsylvania. RELATED: 5 Bedtime Habits That Are Wrecking Your Skin
What Is Blue Light Anyway
“Blue light is a portion of the visible light spectrum (380 to 500 nanometers) that is contained in sunlight, but it is also given off by indoor lighting [and] common electronic devices, like computer screens and smartphones,” says Jason Bloom, MD, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Bloom Facial Plastic Surgery in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
thumb_upLike (26)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up26 likes
L
Lucas Martinez Moderator
access_time
16 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
“[Blue light] is thought to penetrate deeper into the skin than UV light but fortunately is not associated with the development of skin cancer,” adds Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in the dermatology department at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Dermatology in New York City. Most of the blue light people are exposed to comes from the sun, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
thumb_upLike (33)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up33 likes
comment
3 replies
V
Victoria Lopez 3 minutes ago
The amount of blue light emitted by devices is “only a fraction” of that given off by the sun, e...
M
Mason Rodriguez 14 minutes ago
Zeichner says. “The truth is that our computers, tablets, and phones emit only low levels of blue ...
The amount of blue light emitted by devices is “only a fraction” of that given off by the sun, explains Dr. Bloom — “but the problem is that we are constantly spending time on and carrying around these devices and keeping them close to our face and head.”
In fact, per Nielsen data published in July 2018, the average American spends more than 11 hours per day using digital media. “Spending more time in front of our devices during the COVID-19 lockdown raised the question of whether our devices are contributing to premature skin aging,” Dr.
thumb_upLike (44)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up44 likes
comment
3 replies
G
Grace Liu 1 minutes ago
Zeichner says. “The truth is that our computers, tablets, and phones emit only low levels of blue ...
S
Sofia Garcia 18 minutes ago
However, as we spend more and more time looking at our devices, we do need to consider the effects o...
However, as we spend more and more time looking at our devices, we do need to consider the effects of long-term, low-level exposure.”
So, if you’ve noticed your screen time has gone up thanks to work-from-home Zoom calls and ongoing virtual happy hours, or maybe the latest Netflix series drop, you may be wondering about the effect on your health. RELATED: I Smeared Snail Slime on My Skin for 1 Month. Here’s What Happened
How Does Blue Light Affect Human Health
Scientists know that blue light, whether from the sun or devices, can cause eye-strain.
thumb_upLike (22)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up22 likes
comment
3 replies
A
Ava White 10 minutes ago
A review published in December 2018 in the International Journal of Ophthalmology found that on th...
V
Victoria Lopez 12 minutes ago
Study authors wrote that it may even affect hormone production, creating an imbalance that can nega...
A review published in December 2018 in the International Journal of Ophthalmology found that on the visible spectrum, high-energy blue light with a wavelength between 415 and 455 nanometers passes through the cornea and lens to the retina. In the process, it can cause diseases such as dry eye, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration.
thumb_upLike (28)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up28 likes
comment
1 replies
L
Lucas Martinez 7 minutes ago
Study authors wrote that it may even affect hormone production, creating an imbalance that can nega...
S
Scarlett Brown Member
access_time
27 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Study authors wrote that it may even affect hormone production, creating an imbalance that can negatively affect sleep quality.
What Do We Know About Blue Light and Skin Health
Unfortunately, research on the effects of blue light on the skin is lacking.
thumb_upLike (26)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up26 likes
comment
3 replies
L
Luna Park 10 minutes ago
But some preliminary studies may hold clues. Bloom points to a past study that suggested people wit...
J
Joseph Kim 4 minutes ago
Another small study, published in February 2015 in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, found ...
But some preliminary studies may hold clues. Bloom points to a past study that suggested people with darker skin who were exposed to visible blue light had more swelling, redness, and pigment changes than people with lighter skin who were exposed to similar levels of UVA rays. “They do know that the penetration of visible blue light through the skin can cause reactive oxygen species, which then can lead to DNA damage and breakdown of our collagen and elastin fibers,” he points out.
thumb_upLike (33)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up33 likes
S
Sophia Chen Member
access_time
55 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Another small study, published in February 2015 in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, found a connection between blue light exposure and the production of free radicals in skin, which have been linked to an accelerated appearance of aging.
RELATED: 10 Things Your Skin Is Trying to Tell You — and How to Respond
How Can You Tell if Blue Light Has Damaged Your Skin
Skin changes like pigmentation, swelling, early wrinkling, and redness can all be signs of damage from blue light, Bloom says. But Kathleen Suozzi, MD, a dermatologic surgeon and the director of aesthetic dermatology at Yale Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, says there is no solid scientific evidence that blue light damages skin. “It is suspected that blue light may induce harmful effects on the skin, specifically pigmentation and photoaging; however, this has not been proven,” she says.
thumb_upLike (27)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up27 likes
comment
3 replies
A
Aria Nguyen 53 minutes ago
In fact, she points out that some dermatologists use blue light to treat certain skin conditions, su...
A
Alexander Wang 22 minutes ago
Saedi says the best way to prevent blue light damage is to cut down your screen time. You can also i...
In fact, she points out that some dermatologists use blue light to treat certain skin conditions, such as acne, and there have been no reports that these treatments damage skin pigmentation. RELATED: 9 Things to Know Before Undergoing Laser Therapy
How to Protect Your Skin From Potential Blue Light Damage
Dr.
thumb_upLike (2)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up2 likes
L
Lily Watson Moderator
access_time
65 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Saedi says the best way to prevent blue light damage is to cut down your screen time. You can also invest in a screen protector for your electronics, such as the ophthalmologist-endorsed EyeJust ($55, EyeJust.com), which can block or dim blue light. “It is more important to try to be proactive by reducing the screen brightness on your phone or wearing headphones so the phone can be in your pocket and not directly against your cheek and face,” says Bloom.
thumb_upLike (36)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up36 likes
comment
3 replies
D
Dylan Patel 11 minutes ago
And if you aren’t already slathering a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 on your face every day, sta...
E
Ella Rodriguez 64 minutes ago
This can help in blocking blue light, because chemical sunscreens that may block UVA and UVB rays do...
And if you aren’t already slathering a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 on your face every day, start now. “Wearing sunscreen is always recommended for patients on a daily basis,” says Bloom. “I stress the importance of physical blocking sunscreens, like EltaMD or Coola, which contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
thumb_upLike (46)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up46 likes
E
Ethan Thomas Member
access_time
15 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
This can help in blocking blue light, because chemical sunscreens that may block UVA and UVB rays do not block visible or blue light rays.” Zeichner recommends opting for a tinted mineral sunscreen, which will physically block blue light rays from reaching the surface of the skin to begin with. Currently, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (two common ingredients in mineral sunscreens) are the only two active ingredients that are generally recognized as safe and effective (GRAS) by the U.S.
thumb_upLike (8)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up8 likes
comment
1 replies
E
Evelyn Zhang 2 minutes ago
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when used in sunscreens. (While chemical sunscreens are a better ...
L
Lily Watson Moderator
access_time
16 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when used in sunscreens. (While chemical sunscreens are a better option than no sun protection at all, some concerns persist over their environmental effects and high skin absorption rates, per a review published in July 2018 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and a randomized clinical trial from the January 2020 Journal of the American Medical Association, respectively.)
Saedi also recommends Colorescience Sunforgettable sunscreen ($39, Nordstrom.com), a broad- spectrum mineral sunscreen with HEV (high-energy visible light) protection. RELATED: What Is the Difference Between Chemical and Mineral Sunscreen?
thumb_upLike (26)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up26 likes
comment
2 replies
C
Chloe Santos 2 minutes ago
As for skin-care products marketed as protection against blue light, Bloom suggests that the jury is...
S
Sophie Martin 16 minutes ago
Still, this lack of research hasn’t stopped companies from releasing skin-care products for this p...
E
Emma Wilson Admin
access_time
68 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
As for skin-care products marketed as protection against blue light, Bloom suggests that the jury is still out on their effectiveness, because of a lack of research. “We aren’t sure how detrimental this band of visible light is to our skin,” he says.
thumb_upLike (7)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up7 likes
comment
1 replies
V
Victoria Lopez 17 minutes ago
Still, this lack of research hasn’t stopped companies from releasing skin-care products for this p...
K
Kevin Wang Member
access_time
54 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Still, this lack of research hasn’t stopped companies from releasing skin-care products for this purpose. In one high-profile case, The Washington Post reported that the YouTube creator Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter drew criticism for her involvement with RFLCT, a line of skin-care products that purported to protect the skin from blue light damage.
thumb_upLike (44)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up44 likes
comment
2 replies
J
Joseph Kim 8 minutes ago
Backlash ensued from experts such as the cosmetic scientist and YouTube creator Michelle Wong, PhD, ...
S
Sebastian Silva 37 minutes ago
Two product examples are Skinbetter Science Alto Defense Serum ($155, SkinBetter.com), which contai...
A
Ava White Moderator
access_time
57 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Backlash ensued from experts such as the cosmetic scientist and YouTube creator Michelle Wong, PhD, who pointed to the lack of reputable research on RFLCT’s site and reaffirmed that blue light from the sun is far more likely to cause skin damage than blue light from electronic devices, and RFLCT ended up terminating their brand. Most skin-care products that claim to block blue light actually contain antioxidants that counter the negative effects of free radicals, Zeichner notes.
thumb_upLike (28)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up28 likes
comment
2 replies
B
Brandon Kumar 8 minutes ago
Two product examples are Skinbetter Science Alto Defense Serum ($155, SkinBetter.com), which contai...
S
Sophie Martin 8 minutes ago
You’ll commonly find vitamin C in serums to help battle the oxidative stress that this visible l...
N
Natalie Lopez Member
access_time
60 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Two product examples are Skinbetter Science Alto Defense Serum ($155, SkinBetter.com), which contains the antioxidants vitamins C and E, and SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF With Ferulic Acid ($166, SkinCeuticals.com), which is made with vitamin C and ferulic acid, another antioxidant. “Think of [antioxidants] as an insurance policy on your SPF, to neutralize free radical damage that you’re exposed to despite your best efforts in protecting yourself with sunscreen,” Zeichner explains. “Plus, they have their own independent benefits in brightening the skin.”
RELATED: 6 Steps for Choosing a Clean and Safe Sunscreen
Can You Undo Blue Light Damage to the Skin
Because blue light causes reactive oxygen species to break down collagen, Bloom suggests slathering on skin-care products with antioxidants like vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
thumb_upLike (5)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up5 likes
comment
3 replies
S
Sebastian Silva 9 minutes ago
You’ll commonly find vitamin C in serums to help battle the oxidative stress that this visible l...
C
Chloe Santos 26 minutes ago
Past research has found that vitamin C can help with and prevent photoaging and treat hyperpigmentat...
You’ll commonly find vitamin C in serums to help battle the oxidative stress that this visible light causes. Iron oxide is another ingredient that may help reverse damage, Saedi says.
thumb_upLike (26)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up26 likes
comment
2 replies
M
Mason Rodriguez 20 minutes ago
Past research has found that vitamin C can help with and prevent photoaging and treat hyperpigmentat...
E
Emma Wilson 15 minutes ago
How Worried Should You Be About Blue Light
At this time, there isn’t enough conclusive r...
I
Isaac Schmidt Member
access_time
110 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Past research has found that vitamin C can help with and prevent photoaging and treat hyperpigmentation, while one study found that iron oxide may help with reducing sensitivity to blue light. RELATED: What Are the Scientific Health Benefits of Vitamin C?
thumb_upLike (25)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up25 likes
comment
2 replies
I
Isabella Johnson 109 minutes ago
How Worried Should You Be About Blue Light
At this time, there isn’t enough conclusive r...
V
Victoria Lopez 75 minutes ago
“The amount of energy emitted by [technology] sources is minimal compared with the irradiances fro...
E
Ella Rodriguez Member
access_time
46 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
How Worried Should You Be About Blue Light
At this time, there isn’t enough conclusive research to determine how damaging blue light from cellphones and electronic gadgets is to the skin. Dr. Suozzi does point out, though, that blue light from the sun — and all the sun’s rays, for that matter — remain a known cause for concern.
thumb_upLike (1)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up1 likes
A
Aria Nguyen Member
access_time
48 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
“The amount of energy emitted by [technology] sources is minimal compared with the irradiances from the solar spectrum,” she says, “and their effect on the skin is likely minimal.”
Additional reporting by Laura McArdle. NEWSLETTERS
Sign up for our Healthy Skin Newsletter
SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Latest in Skin & Beauty
7 Doctor-Approved Ways to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation
Sunspots, acne scars, and big brown patches are all signs of hyperpigmentation on the skin.
thumb_upLike (39)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up39 likes
J
James Smith Moderator
access_time
25 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Try these hacks for a more even skin tone.By Jennifer BenjaminSeptember 15, 2022
Which Wrinkle-Reducing Option Is Best for You
By Jessica MigalaSeptember 13, 2022
Is This Onion Water Hack the Secret to Healthy Hair
Hair experts weigh in on this unusual beauty practice touted by musician Cardi B.By Marisa PetrarcaSeptember 9, 2022
Healthy Hair A Guide to Getting Full Shiny Strong Locks
By Leslie BarrieAugust 10, 2022
Why Using Calamine Lotion as a Makeup Primer Is a Bad Idea Dermatologists Say
Plot twist: Calamine lotion isn’t just for treating bug bites — at least not according to some influencers on TikTok. Real skin-care pros, dermatologists...By Hilary I. LebowAugust 4, 2022
Is Natural Deodorant Actually Healthier for You
Maybe you’ve heard that conventional deodorants and antiperspirants are linked to diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s.
thumb_upLike (48)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up48 likes
comment
3 replies
E
Emma Wilson 23 minutes ago
Here’s what the research actually...By Christine ByrneAugust 2, 2022
Stretch Marks Why They...
J
Jack Thompson 8 minutes ago
Is Blue Light Harming Your Skin Health Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Skin & Beauty...
Here’s what the research actually...By Christine ByrneAugust 2, 2022
Stretch Marks Why They Happen and How to Treat Them
By Ashley WelchAugust 1, 2022
Banana Boat Sunscreen Recalled for Traces of a Carcinogen
Three batches of the product were found to contain benzene, which can cause cancer with long-term exposure.By Rachael RobertsonAugust 1, 2022
Caffeine in Skin Care Does It Actually Work
Perk up your skin-care routine with this trendy ingredient — dermatologists say there’s real science behind it.By Hilary I. LebowJuly 25, 2022
7 At-Home Sunburn Treatments to Save Your Vacation
Get a little too much sun on your beach vacation? These treatments, from hydration to cool compresses, can help salvage the rest of your trip.By Krisha McCoyJuly 22, 2022 MORE IN
What Is Vitiligo Symptoms Causes Diagnosis and Treatment
9 Skin-Care Resolutions Dermatologists Want You to Make in 2022