Beiersdorf Refutes Reports that Artificial Blue Light Causes Skin Damage via Cosmetics & Toiletries

Research led by Ludger Kolbe, Ph.D., Chief Scientist of Photobiology for Beiersdorf AG, has refuted reports that artificial blue light causes harmful effects in skin.

In a company press announcement, Kolbe stated that such public discourse is characterized by a lack of scientific knowledge and studies. Beiersdorf studied this misconception and reported these findings in a poster presented at the 27th EADV Congress in Paris. Results showed that the amount of blue light emitted during conventional use of devices is, as Kolbe put it, “nowhere near enough to trigger harmful skin effects.”

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He explained that one week, uninterrupted, sitting just 30 cm in front of a monitor is equal to one minute outside on a sunny summer day in Hamburg; and that natural blue light is the actual danger. “The much-feared negative impact of increased screen use due to the coronavirus—for example, as a result of more online meetings or increased use of smartphones—is therefore scientifically untenable. The effect on the skin is negligible, which means concerns about negative impacts on the skin are unfounded,” explained Kolbe.