Does Blue Light Hurt Your Skin?

In this article:
Blue light and UV light explained
Is blue light a danger to your skin?
Is blue light more harmful than UV?
How can you tell if blue light has damaged your skin?
The difference between blue light exposure from UV and blue light from screens
Does blue light from skin devices harm skin?
Blue light protection for your skin and eyes
Can you undo blue light damage to the skin?
Does vitamin C protect against blue light?

The science of natural light and how it interacts with people and the world around us is fascinating and complex. Research has established that even though the UV light that the sun emits is invisible, it poses significant risks to our skin. Beyond this, the sun also emits visible light, a portion of which is known as blue light.

Researchers have known for some time that blue light from the sun can harm skin and eyes. However, the sun is no longer our only source of blue light: it also emanates from most digital devices. That includes your smartphone and tablet, where the damage is up close and personal.

Read on to find out more about blue light, if it's more harmful than UV rays and what you can do to stop blue light damage to your skin (1).

Blue light and UV light explained

When you look at a chart about the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays, you’ll see that their wavelengths range from 280 nm to 400 nm (“nm” stands for nanometer, which is a measurement of length). Next on the spectrum is blue light, defined as light whose wavelength ranges from 380 nm to 500 nm (2). The entire light spectrum goes up to 700 nm.

The blue light portion is what emanates from digital devices. We mentioned smart phones and tablets above, but it also comes from computers, flat screen TVs and fluorescent light bulbs. Both types of UV rays and blue light are harmful for your skin and eyes, but there are steps you can take to reduce these risks.

Is blue light a danger to your skin?

Evolving research has shown that blue light can be bad for skin (3). It’s certain that blue light in the 380–400 nm range is problematic, although the risk seems to lessen somewhat toward the top end, at 500 nm.

Long-term exposure to concentrated sources of blue light energy can cause skin damage, including uneven tone, inflammation and weakening of the skin’s surface (4). Simply put, blue light promotes stressors in skin that cause photoageing; that is, ageing from exposure to light (5).

Is blue light more harmful than UV?

So far, studies seem to indicate that blue light isn’t more harmful than invisible UV light. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that blue light is “safer.” In one study comparing the effects of blue light versus UV light on skin, it was found that blue light from indoor sources (i.e., digital devices) was not as harmful as UV rays (5).

That same study, however, found that blue light from the sun did have similar detrimental effects on skin as UV rays. In fact, researchers recommended completing additional studies on the subject and that future sunscreen formulations consider blue ray wavelengths when it comes to protection.

How can you tell if blue light has damaged your skin?

As with many forms of light exposure, the damage you suffer from blue light isn’t likely immediately noticeable. Unlike sunburn – where the result is obvious at the outset – blue light damage is cumulative, occurring over time. It might take years to see the visible damage, which includes premature skin ageing, most notably the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (6).

One of the areas where the effects of blue light might be more prominent and appear more quickly is in skin pigmentation. Researchers have found that irradiation with blue light resulted in hyperpigmentation that was more sustained than that caused by UVA rays (7). In other words, if you’ve seen a sudden and persistent development of dark spots or uneven tone on your face, that could be a sign of blue light damage. The same study found that blue light also damages skin’s barrier – so if you notice barrier issues (dehydration, onset of sensitivity), that could be another indicator of blue light wreaking havoc.

The difference between blue light exposure from UV and blue light from screens

Without question, sunlight is skin's main source of blue light. Digital devices emit only a fraction of the amount of radiation we receive from the sun. However, our phones are much closer to us than the sun and this “close-up” exposure matters.

The time we spend using our devices, holding them close to our face and eyes, adds up—that’s where health issues begin to arise. Statistics show that millennials check their smartphones 157 times per day, in comparison to older adults, who check their phones only about 30 times per day. That means millennials are at a much higher risk of blue light exposure every day.

When it comes to the eyes, there’s far more research indicating how damaging unprotected exposure to blue light from the sun can be (8). Current opinion on eye damage from blue light coming from digital devices is mixed, but many eye health professionals claim it’s too weak to be a problem (9). From our perspective, we’re concerned that hundreds of “weak” exposures could lead to more significant long-term damage.

What’s certain is that nighttime exposure to blue light from smartphones and the like disturbs our body’s natural sleep/wake cycle, known as its circadian rhythm (10). This disruption can lead to several health issues, including weight gain and poor-quality sleep.

Does blue light from skin devices harm skin?

The quick answer, from everything we’ve seen in current research, is no. We know that blue light devices, such as those used by clinicians and dermatologists, are used to treat a variety of skin concerns, including fine lines, wrinkles, uneven tone and blemishes. As with many things in the clinical field, the adage “the dose makes the poison” applies here (11).

Blue light treatments from devices used for in-office procedures have been shown to be safe. The issue of harm to skin comes from prolonged exposure – the type which is experienced through repeated sun damage, or frequent and lengthy use of digital devices such as smart phones and tablets (12).

Blue light protection for your skin and eyes

A simple solution for blue light protection is to cover your phone and tablet with a blue light screen shield. It’s a cheap fix, eliminating the need to worry about skin care or sunglasses when using your phone or tablet (if only it were that easy protecting your skin from the sun).

Another option: Some smartphones, tablets and laptops have a setting that disables blue light in favour of yellow light (often called night mode or nightshift) which is far easier on the eyes—and, in turn, your skin. If your phone has this feature, setting it to be on all the time can be a great anti-ageing and eye-saving thing to do (13). It will probably improve your sleep, too, and who doesn’t want that?

Whether it’s the light from sun exposure or from your smartphone, without question, you need to protect your eyes during the day. Polarised sunglasses are essential for all outside light exposure to prevent long-term damage as well as damage from your phone (although we realise it’s not practical to wear sunglasses inside).

Unless your doctor prescribes a blue light facial treatment, you also need to protect your skin from potential damage due to exposure to this light.

Can you undo blue light damage to the skin?

In terms of “fixing” blue light damage, the best way to take care of it also happens to be the best way to prevent it as well! Look for antioxidant-rich serums and consider a skin care routine packed with proven, protective ingredients to address the visible effects of airborne pollutants.

Although blue light isn’t the same as smog, both cause unwanted skin issues, including dull, uneven skin tone. Last, always apply an antioxidant-loaded broad-spectrum sunscreen to keep skin shielded from the most concentrated portions of UV and blue light (14).

For maximum benefit, consider a tinted base featuring a 5% concentration of vitamin C to combat uneven tone and discolourations at the same time.

Does vitamin C protect against blue light?

Vitamin C skin care products can definitely help mitigate damage that blue light exposure causes. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that works to defend skin against external, pro-ageing threats, like light and pollution. There is currently no definitive research, however, suggesting it’s better or more effective than other antioxidants at protecting skin from the effects of blue light – though it’s certainly good to have on your side when you’re selecting skin care products!

Learn more about skin care tips.

References for this information:

1. Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering, December 2018, pages 447-452
2. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, September 2015, pages 526–528
3. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, and Photomedicine, May 2018, pages 184–193
4. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, August 2020, pages 399-406
5. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, July 2017, pages 300–310
6. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, December 2019, pages 558-562
7. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, August 2020, pages 399-406
8. International Journal of Ophthalmology, February 2017, pages 191–202
9. Molecular Vision, January 2016, pages 61–72
10. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, December 2022, pages 305-318
11. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, March 2021, pages 714-717
12. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, April 2023, pages 1,185-1,190
13. Journal of Biomedical Optics, May 2015, ePublication
14. Dermatologic Surgery, June 2016, pages 727–732