Abstract

Recent studies have found that blue light (near UVA) penetrates deeply into the skin, reaching the dermal and subdermal levels where it can cause oxidative damage, which degenerate proteins and lipids, creating the aesthetic problems typical of photo aging. The majority of these radiations are coming from indoor (more than 80%) in houses or offices, where they are emitted from the electronic instruments that surround us (smartphones, tablets, computers, tv screens, LED light). Cosmetology is studying several natural active ingredients capable of protecting skin against the harmful effects of this new type of pollution. 

In the next few pages, keyplayers in the antiageing field have been invited to enter into details of how they are evaluating the damaging effects of blue light and what are the solutions they propose.

BLUE LIGHT AND THE SKIN

Jessen Curpen 

Global Training and Biophysics Manager,

CIDP

For centuries, the scientific community believed that Ultra Violet (UV) light was the main component of the solar radiation that was responsible for cutaneous pigmentation and photo-aging. However, recent findings have shown that Blue Light, or High Energy Visible (HEV) Light do have significant pigmenting and skin aging effect. Blue Light corresponds to the segment of the solar radiation between 400nm and 500nm and is well known for its detrimental impact on the eye retina leading to macular degeneration. However, the effect of Blue Light on the skin is more and more studied due to the opportunity that it offers to the cosmetic industry.

Blue Light occurs both naturally, by solar irradiation and artificially, through the various electronic devices containing LED such as smartphones, tablets, computers, tv screens, etc.. ...