News

Is your screen time aging your skin?

The average American looks at their phone 46 times a day, and that number doubles for millennials.  Scientists now want to know how that over-exposure to screen light is affecting us.  The concern is that the screen time could be prematurely aging your skin.

We protect ourselves from the sun's rays. But what about the light coming from our phones, tablets, and TV's?  We're exposed to that “High Energy Visible” light every day, some of us, for hours at a time.

The blue light from your cell phone, computers and TV is very close to UV light in the electromagnetic spectrum.

Although, not nearly as dangerous, HEV light does penetrate your skin, and researchers are looking into what that could mean in the long term.

“They definitely are getting exposed more, but whether that has any implications for the actual health of the skin, we're not quite sure,” Dr. Robin Travers tells Boston 25 News.

Dr. Travers is a dermatologist with Skincare Physicians in Chestnut Hill. She says HEV waves can increase pigmentation, like those little brown spots, and free radicals in the skin.

“Those free radicals can cause skin damage, they can cause a weakening of some of the connective tissue in the skin, so there is some potential for damage.  Even if it doesn't directly cause things like skin cancer, so it is worthwhile being aware of these waves,” said Dr. Travers.

Dr. Travers says you can buy a screen to put over your device to filter the light. Also, the same lotion that blocks the sun's damaging rays will likely protect you from HEV light too.

"It’s difficult to truly protect yourself, the best thing is probably just to look up from your screens every now and then.  That's a better protection than anything,” said Dr. Travers.