Blue light, the new enemy of our skin by Zurko Research

6 October 2017

Spending a lot of time in front of artificial light radiation is as damaging as sun exposure. Both of these radiations cause unpleasant and even irreversible alterations in our skin.

Today, we spend most of our time indoors, either at home or at work, with artificial lighting and in front of electronic devices such as computers, televisions or mobile phones, which irradiate light like the sun. Overexposure to these radications known as blue light has been shown to have dangerous effects on the skin. This type of radiation is also known as visible light of high energy (HEVL) and has a scope of slings of 400-500 nanometers, which ends up causing significant damage to the epidermis and resulting in: skin pigmentation, skin inflammation, weakening of the epidermal barrier and aging effects among other problems.

In the long term, these radiations result in consequences very similar to those produced by exposure to UV rays; such as cytotoxicity in human cells, which translate into the typical signs of premature aging of the skin such as loss of elasticity, dryness and fine lines. In several studies carried out recently and related to this subject, it is shown that the blue light penetrates deep in the skin and damages all the layers that form it. So they have developed specific filters to block light, which can be easily incorporated into conventional sunscreens.

Daily protection against blue light is a way to proactively defend against its negative impact on the skin. So using personal care products that include skin protective ingredients of this wavelength could be able to minimize the signs of blue light damage and help prevent them. The personal care industry is starting to collect information about blue light damage. A problem that has always been present in sunlight, but as we said before has been accentuated with electronic devices and new lighting.

It is a topic that is begin to worry, as we spend more time exposed to these uncontrolled radiations, so it is necessary to thoroughly investigate the possible problems in which the prolonged exposure to blue light can be derived as well as the resolution and application of new substances in cosmetics that protect and care for our skin. To facilitate the progress in this area, Zurko Research count on an expert team of specilists evaluating the safety and efficacy of these products.