Blue’s Clues

Fortunately, most patients have gotten the message that the judicious use of broad-spectrum sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer and premature aging, but what about blocking blue light?

There’s been a flurry of research on how blue or visible light affects skin, eyes, and sleep, along with an influx of products that claim to block blue wavelengths and their ill effects.

And there is something to this when it comes to skin health, says Jeanine B. Downie, MD, FAAD, director of image Dermatology PC in Montclair, NJ.

“Blue light exposure can make your face darker in irregular patches and it should be avoided,” she says. “According to some different studies I looked at, they all suggest that visible light/blue light is a major cause for people who have post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and/or melasma.”

This is why blue light blocking sunscreen can be very helpful, she says. “I explain to my patients that our skin reacts to indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, blue light from our phone, blue light from the computer, and blue light from our Apple watch.”

Dr. Downie recommends sunscreen, not blue light shields. “The key to protecting against visible light is application and the reapplication and reapplication of sunscreen, regardless of skin type,” she says. Iron oxide in sunscreens helps to block out visible blue light, she notes.

NEW PRODUCTS

Micro Peel At-Home Kit, PCA Skin

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Café Dulce Cleansing Scrub, Revision Skincare

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Canopy Humidifier, Canopy

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Reef-Safe Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen, Cleure

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