Impact of Blue Light on Skin and the Organic Substance that Counters Its Damage
The Impact of Blue Light: Unraveling its Effects on Skin Health has become a burning topic as research into its overall health implications, with a particular focus on the skin, escalates.
Modern times have brought about an influx of digital devices such as smartphones, computers, and tablets, emitting blue light. This trend, exacerbated by the growing number of people spending extended hours in front of screens and owning smartphones, according to the Pew Research Center, is causing concern.
While natural blue light is essential for regulating our circadian rhythm, excessive exposure can lead to various health problems, including eye strain, sleep disorders, and, increasingly, negative impacts on skin health. In response, the cosmetics industry has seen a surge in formulations designed to combat blue light's damaging effects on the skin.
Staying abreast of regulating our circadian rhythms and gaining insight into the consequences of blue light on health paves the way for new active ingredients that can counter its effects on the skin.
The Science of Blue Light Exposure
Blue light refers to high-energy, short-wavelength light in the visible spectrum, making up the part of the electromagnetic spectrum we can see. It has a wavelength of approximately 380 to 500 nanometers and is emitted by natural and artificial sources such as sunlight, bulbs, LEDs, televisions, and smartphones.
Due to its unique properties and increased presence in daily life, numerous scientific studies are focused on blue light's effect on human health and the skin specifically. Concerning health implications, the majority of research centers around:
- The Impact of Blue Light on Circadian Rhythms: Blue light can influence our sleep cycle by promoting alertness and improving mood during the day but disrupting sleep cycles and affect sleep quality at night by interfering with melatonin production.
- The Effect of Blue Light on Eye Health: While research on blue light's potential impact on the eye's surface and other anterior structures is still limited, studies have shown that excessive exposure to blue light can cause oxidative damage and cell death in the cornea.
Skin Disruptions Caused by Blue Light
Understanding the mechanism of blue light's effect on the skin is vital for understanding its repercussions. Due to its shorter wavelength, blue light penetrates the superficial layers (epidermis and dermis) of the skin only about 1 mm or less.
Insufficient exposure to blue light during the circadian cycle can lead to several skin disruptions, including premature aging via oxidative stress, hyperpigmentation, increased skin sensitivity, and dryness.
- Oxidative Stress Accumulation: Blue light penetrates the skin to trigger the production of free radicals, leading to cellular damage and contributing to premature aging, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity.
- Hyperpigmentation: Prolonged exposure to blue light can induce the appearance of brown spots and uneven skin tone.
- Inflammation: Blue light can cause skin inflammation by increasing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
- Disruption of Skin Regeneration Processes: Exposure to blue light can interfere with the natural regeneration processes of the skin, impacting cellular detoxification, skin barrier functions, and cellular division, among other processes.
Neutralizing the Effect of Blue Light on Skin: The Underlying Mechanism and the Natural Ingredient that Activates it
The circadian cycle reflects our ability to adapt and synchronize with the Earth's 24-hour cycles. This process is controlled by a network of feedback loops formed by activators and repressors, regulated by two key "clock" genes: CLOCK and BMAL1.
These genes play a crucial role in governing cellular proliferation, DNA repair, immune system function, and other metabolic processes in the epidermis, acting as a biological clock for the skin.
To resynchronize the natural skin biorhythm, cosmetic formulations must consider these mechanisms to regulate the skin's circadian clock effectively. In this context, CircanblueTM presents itself as a promising solution aimed at counteracting the desynchronization of the circadian cycle induced by screens, promoting healthy skin.
This natural postbiotic active ingredient is bio-engineered, demonstrating chrono-protective activity against blue light, effectively regulating the skin's circadian clock, and acting as a repairing and detoxifying ingredient. Developed by Provital, it improves several skin repair and detoxification systems disrupted by blue light, offering effective protection against its adverse effects.
- In response to the growing concern over the effects of blue light on skin health, the cosmetics industry has seen a surge in science-backed formulations that aim to counteract the damaging effects of blue light on skin.
- To maintain a healthy balance in the skin's circadian rhythm and provide protection against blue light, technology-driven solutions like CircanblueTM are being developed, offering a potential solution for health-and-wellness enthusiasts seeking effective skin-care alternatives.
