We’ve all heard that generations younger than millennials are aging faster than millennials. In this article, Gen Z said it’s “aging like milk.” People are quick to blame individuals getting cosmetic procedures sooner and vaping, like these dermatologists.
Gen Alpha seems to have noted what the rapidly aging Generation Z is complaining about, and they’ve become obsessed with skincare. Thousands of tweens flock to Sephora as soon as their parents are willing to take them, and they’re not buying cheap brands. Instead, they want effective methods to prevent aging before it happens. There’s one key thing people seem to keep missing: blue light.
I participate in affiliate programs, including Amazon Affiliates, and may earn a small commission if you purchase items through the site’s links.
Are Younger Generations Aging Faster?
This seems to be an ongoing debate. Some dermatologists claim they see more people from Generation Z with premature aging while others swear millennials are just looking younger. Generation Alpha, whom the oldest is 14, hasn’t had the chance to develop premature wrinkles and fine lines yet, but they’re striving to prevent aging at all costs.
Boards of dermatologists and newspapers have sought to find the cause, whether blaming vaping or the stress of the pandemic. The fact that everyone is trying to find the reason indicates that younger generations may be aging faster than they thought they would.
Blue Light Causes Premature Aging
That’s where blue light comes in. Technology wasn’t around when millennials enjoyed the good old days of the 90s. However, it was in 2007 that the iPhone was introduced.
By 2012, smartphones were common instead of a niche thing only a few of your friends had. Generation Z would start their teenage years with a laptop or phone in hand, and Generation Alpha has never known life without a screen.
Blue light is a type of light that comes from devices like laptops, tablets, smartphones, televisions, etc. It is necessary to achieve the colors on the screen. Once you turn it off, the screen looks more amber or yellow because it lacks blue light.
People quickly comment on how children are growing up too fast or the mental impact of too much screen time. However, no one is paying attention to the devastating impact blue light exposure has on your skin. There are several ways blue light can cause premature aging.
Poor Quality Sleep
Your body repairs itself in sleep, including your skin. That’s when your skin heals from environmental stressors and free radical damage. However, blue light can interrupt your circadian rhythm and lead to poor quality sleep, so your skin can’t heal properly.
Collagen Breakdown
Collagen is naturally produced in your body. It gives your skin a bouncy, youthful appearance. As we age, collagen production naturally slows down, leading to sagging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles. Your skin can’t bounce back like it used to. Blue light causes damage at a cellular level to inhibit collagen production.
Elastin Damage
Collagen isn’t the only thing damaged by blue light. Blue light can also impact the elastin in your skin, which helps your skin stay younger, just like collagen. Elastin makes your skin more elastic. According to this study, blue light causes damage on a cellular level that can impact elastin and lead to premature aging.
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation in this situation means the increased production of melanin. Melanin is responsible for your skin getting darker when you have a tan. However, when it comes to hyperpigmentation from blue light, it shows up as age spots. You know those random dark spots you get when you get older? Some people call them sunspots. Blue light can cause that over time.
How To Protect Yourself From Premature Aging Due To Blue Light
The world is surrounded by blue light. You go to school and get an iPad or a Chromebook with blue light. People head to work with more screens. The television bombards your skin with blue light while you watch your favorite show. However, there are a few ways to protect yourself from blue light and the premature aging that comes with it.
Screen Protectors
Screen protectors specially designed to block blue light are available. These work by filtering the blue light so it’s absorbed into the screen protector and doesn’t reach your skin. The price tends to vary depending on whether you want it for a television, laptop, phone, etc. However, you can get one like this for an iPhone for under ten bucks.
Sunscreen
Innovative formulas can help you protect your skin from the sun and blue light, both of which cause premature aging. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with key ingredients like zinc oxide.
Broad-spectrum sunscreen is designed to protect against UVA and UVB rays, but it’s also more likely to have ingredients to help reflect blue light. Mineral sunscreens are also more likely to help protect against blue light from your devices.
Other Ways You Can Prevent Premature Aging
Premature aging remains a concern for younger generations, and it should be. Today, people are exposed to more environmental stressors, less healthy food, and more stress than previous generations. Lack of sleep alone can cause premature aging. You can do a few other things to help keep your skin youthful.
Quality Sleep
Make sure you get enough sleep so that you feel well-rested in the morning. Everyone is different, and everyone has different sleep needs. One person may need eight hours of sleep a night while another may feel refreshed after seven. Listen to your body, and always make sure you get your beauty sleep.
Skincare Routines
Stay on top of your skincare routines. Make sure you cleanse and moisturize, as well as your other steps, every morning and night. A proper skincare routine will keep your skin radiant and hydrated to help prevent premature aging.
The Right Products
Always take the time to research products before purchasing them. A product designed for oily skin can inadvertently strip a person with dry skin’s natural skincare barrier, making them more susceptible to premature aging.
Focus on gentle ingredients that are beneficial for your skin and tailored to your skin type. Include products that help protect your skin from stressors, including those in the environment.
Final Thoughts
Technology is still new to the world, even if there is a generation that’s never known a world without technology. However, that means there’s still a lot to learn about it, including the blue light people are constantly exposed to. We know blue light can cause premature aging, but we don’t know how fast it can happen.
There’s no research to indicate it can harm your eyes, but scientists are still studying it to figure out what type of damage blue light can cause besides premature aging. In the meantime, it’s best to keep your skin protected.
Related Articles
Benefits Of Strawberries On Skin
Are You Overwashing Your Hair?