Yes, work can take a toll on your skin — due to stress, certainly, but even if you feel that your work environment is pretty stress-free, there are still some less conspicuous stressors that may be harming your skin.
Skin is a major target of oxidative damage, which causes DNA-damaging free radicals. There exists a strong link between this oxidative stress and premature aging of the skin (i.e., wrinkles, discoloration, abnormal texture, etc.). Smartphones, tablets, computer screens, and fluorescent and LED lights in the workplace emit visible light, known to cause reactive oxygen species which can damage the skin and eyes. Particularly sensitive to this type of exposure are people who suffer from melasma, a pigmentary disorder that causes dark spots on the skin.
Most people spend more than eight hours per day in front of these devices and light sources — a significant amount of time that can really take a toll on your skin — and unlike UV light from the sun, blue light is not blocked by normal sunscreen.
Here are a few tips to decrease your exposure to the damaging light from these devices:
- Add a blue light-blocking screen protector to your computer screen and phone.
- On an iPhone, change the settings so the screen is always set to Night Shift on the warm setting.
- To protect your eyes, blue light-blocking glasses are available with or without a prescription.
- To protect your skin, use a tinted sunscreen that contains iron oxide and blocks blue light.
- Wear an antioxidant in the morning to help fight off the reactive oxygen species and prevent them from harming the skin.
Dr. Heather Reagin is a board-certified dermatologist at Sona Dermatology and MedSpa in Fort Worth (sonaskin.com).
