13th June 2023

Contributors To Damaged Skin You’ve Probably Never Thought Of

By now, most of us realise the importance of caring for our skin. External factors like sun damage and air pollution can lead to premature ageing and even skin cancer, among other concerns. It’s important to protect your skin from these harmful aggressors, but despite a general understanding of this, some of us fail to do so, or at least not to the degree that we should. This is partly due to a lack of awareness around lesser known contributors to damaged skin, so let’s explore this further…

UV Light

More specifically, we’re going to be looking at various forms of light damage. In regards to UV light, everyone knows the dangers of UV rays within sunlight. Both UVA and UVB rays have the potential to harm the skin in various ways, from sunburn and photodamage to the formation of potentially deadly skin cancers. Protect your skin with SPF30+ sunscreens, not only in the summer but year-round as the winter sun is just as harmful. However, the sun isn’t the only source of UV light that contributes to damaged skin.

Do you ever visit the salon for a gel manicure? Have you ever wondered what damage those UV lamps are causing to your hands? This is something that might not have even crossed your mind, but your monthly nail appointments could be rapidly ageing your skin, which is even more alarming when you think about the fact that our hands are often overlooked when it comes to skincare as it is. We often forget to apply sunscreen to our hands even though they’re often one of the most exposed areas and are highly susceptible to damage.

Club lights are another source of harmful UV light. Designed to enhance your nightlife experience with vibrant visuals, too much exposure can lead to damaged skin, which is something to think about next time you’re out on the town.

Blue Light

Is blue light something you’ve ever heard of? Also known as high-energy visible light (HEVL), this primarily comes from the sun but also some very common sources, most predominantly our gadgets and some forms of overhead lighting. More studies are shedding light on the impact that HEVL can have on our skin, warning us that excessive screen time is likely accelerating the ageing process, unbeknownst to us.

This type of light has the potential to impair the protective barriers within our skin, leading to deteriorating collagen levels and the early onset of fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity and age spots. This is worrying when you think about how we more or less have constant exposure to blue light. Fluorescent and LED lighting also leads to damaged skin, which is a particular concern for those who work in office settings or television studios as these spaces are often heavily lit in this way.

What Can You Do To Avoid Damaged Skin?

Prevention is always better than cure. We can’t stress the importance of year-round SPF enough when protecting your skin from light damage and don’t forget areas like your hands, face, neck and decolletage. Reapply your sunscreen throughout the day, most often to your hands as you’ll likely wash away your products with each trip to the bathroom.

Think about limiting your screen time. If you struggle with a bit of self-discipline, there are apps you can download that enforce downtime from your gadgets. Ensure you take regular breaks if you work in front of a computer screen or under harsh lighting every day. If working from home is an option, take it and make the most of a less harmful working environment.

Finally, if you’re at all worried about your damaged skin or you want advice on how to remedy concerns like premature ageing and sun damage, get in touch with Dr Firas. With years of training and experience behind him and the most advanced skin and laser treatments at his disposal, Dr Firas has gained a reputation as one of London’s most renowned dermatologists. Get in touch to schedule a consultation and be sure to follow Dr Firas on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.