Can Your Computer Screen Damage Your Skin As You Write?

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If you’re a writer, you typically spend a long time staring at a computer screen. You sit there for hour after hour, pondering, typing, and transferring ideas from your brain to a digital medium. 

As you do so, however, the backlight from the screen shines on your face. And all that light radiation hits your skin, potentially damaging it and leading to health issues. 

In the 21st century, we’re used to the idea that light and skin don’t mix very well. Everyone slathers themselves in SPF before they leave the house in the morning, just in case an errant UV ray smashes their DNA and causes skin cancer. 

But what about indoors risks, like computer screens? Could they damage the skin too? And if so, what should writers do? 

Can Your Computer Screen Damage Your Skin As You Write?

Computer Screens Are Probably Safe

Can Your Computer Screen Damage Your Skin As You Write? Computer Screens Are Probably Safe - Honeybunnytwee
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Researchers have asked these questions and generally concluded that computer screens are safe. Most do not emit UV light. This applies to all forms of backlights – including those emitted by LEDs. 

However, some suggest that computer screens could still damage the skin by emitting “high energy blue light,” sometimes called HEV for short

We don’t typically think of blue light as harmful. And in the quantities we get in nature, it usually isn’t. But please note that blue light is more energy-dense than red or orange, making it potentially more harmful. 

Light is quantized, meaning that it arrived in packets of energy that reach the skin. One argument says that some energy is enough to knock molecules off DNA strands, damaging cells, and leading to lasting damage. Other lines of evidence suggest that this is not the case, so the jury is still very much out on this matter. 

Unlock The Power Of Your Skin To Repair

While the science of using a monitor all day long still isn’t clear, it’s always a good idea to protect and nourish your skin using SPF. 

Furthermore, researchers now believe that it is also possible to activate the skin’s innate capacity to repair itself. The way hyaluronic acid skin cream works, for instance, is by targeting the repair machinery in cells and using it to enhance the appearance of the skin similar to a chemical peel. 

There are other highly effective compounds too. For instance, a lot of people use rosehip essential oil to keep their skin supple and soft.

Keep Screen Time To A Minimum

In general, you should try to keep screen time to a minimum if you’re worried about this issue. So instead of doing all of your research on the internet for your next book, you could print off or buy physical copies of the material and study them instead, 

Get A Blue Light Filter

A cheaper and simpler method is to simply use a blue light filter while you work. This software stops screens from emitting so much blue light, making images appear yellower and slightly darker.

If you still find yourself having trouble with your skin, moisturizing daily and see if that helps. Also, use face serums in problem areas, like wrinkles or hyperpigmentation. 

What are Your Thoughts About Computer Screens and their Effect on Skin?

One thought on “Can Your Computer Screen Damage Your Skin As You Write?

  1. The details about how to care about your skin as you work on your computers was very helpful. Thank you for sharing it with us through this article. Keep sharing more such articles like this with us.

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