Blue Light With Dr. Lily Talakoub
Today is Blue Light Awareness Day!
With stay-at-home orders screen time has skyrocketed for most of us with #WFH, Netflix binging and endless scrolling (no judgement here). We know that blue light and its effects on skin health can be a confusing topic as it’s a relatively new concept to us all. So, we sat down with Board Certified Cosmetic & Medical Dermatologist, Dr. Lily Talakoub, to give us the 411 on blue light from a dermatologist’s POV.
Simply put, what is blue light?
Blue light, known as High Energy Visible Light (HEV), is the strong light that emits from the screens on cell phones, computers, tablets, and TVs, as well as from fluorescent and LED lighting. 📱📺💻💡
How is blue light and its effects on skin health viewed in the field of dermatology?
Blue light has a very short wavelength and high energy. It can penetrate the skin and eyes leading to eye damage, skin hyperpigmentation, and the breakdown of collagen and elastin which therefore causes skin aging.
Is blue light as much of a threat as UVA/UVB when it comes to skin damage and skin aging?
Blue light does not cause damage to the DNA of our skin cells like UVA/UVB rays do, however, overexposure to blue light can have the following effects on your skin:
💙 Oxidative stress
💙 Free radical production
💙 Hyperpigmentation
💙 Decrease in skin elasticity
💙 Skin cell inflammation
💙 Degradation of the skin barrier
What are some everyday examples of where and when we would encounter overexposure to blue light?
Our culture is spending more and more time in front of laptops, computers, iPhones, and iPads every day. In our COVID era, we are also spending more time in front of screens and Zooms rather than with people in meeting rooms. The screens we use every day are large sources of blue light. Our overall day-to-day exposure is increasing and this will cause skin damage over a lifetime.
What are some tips to help to protect your skin from modern world skin aggressors including UVA/UVB, blue light and pollution?
Use your sunscreen every day, even if you are staying indoors. Sunscreen with broad spectrum coverage and properties to help mitigate HEV light (like COOLA's Bluescreen Collection) is necessary to help block UV light (which will come through your windows ) and mitigate the damaging effects of blue light from your screens. Also, make sure to adjust the light level on your devices especially before bed time.
From a dermatologist’s point of view, what makes COOLA's BlueScreen™ Digital De-Stress™ technology Complex unique?
An organic broad spectrum sunscreen that also defends from the effects of HEV like the Bluescreen Collection is unique. The complex is scientifically proven to go beyond UVA/UVB rays to help mitigate the effects of digital and environmental skin aggressors including HEV (blue light) and IR (infrared). The sunscreens are also easily applied under makeup and provide daily sun protection while helping to mitigate the effects from blue light exposures.
COOLA's proprietary BlueScreen™ Digital De-Stress™ technology complex is found in the following products:
Sun Silk Drops
Sun Silk Crème
Sun Silk Moisturizer
Refreshing SPF Water Mist
What is your personal favorite product in our BlueScreen™ Digital De-Stress™ technology Collection?
My favorite product is the Sun Silk Drops because it feels light and is easily mixed into my makeup or facial serums every morning. It is light and doesn't go on greasy like most broad spectrum sunscreens can be.
Make sure to follow Dr. Lily Talakoub on Instagram and visit McLean Dermatology to book an appointment.
