Yes, we’ve all been hearing for the past few decades how technology — screen time, specifically — is just ruining everything. We don’t connect, we don’t talk to one another anymore, nobody can remember to spell complete words or type complete sentences, and, oh yeah, there’s also the concern that cell phones are really bad for our health. Blah, blah… scaremongering… blah. Did any of those reasons make you think about putting your phone down for a minute? Didn’t think so.
But here’s another reason to give you pause about the amount of time you spend gazing into that tiny little screen, and the harm it might be doing to — gasp! — your looks. Yes, being married to your phone may actually be ruining your selfies.
Your phone's blue light is bad for your skin
The kind of light emitted by phone screens, computer screens and TVs — and just stop for one moment to think about which of these devices you hold closest to your face — is called high-energy visible (HEV) light, but is better known as blue light (though not the kind meant to get the attention of Kmart shoppers). It may potentially penetrate the skin even more deeply than UV rays, damaging its elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid. While most sunscreens will not protect against blue light-induced wrinkling, Shape magazine notes that several high-dollar HEV protectants are now being marketed specifically towards those worried about tech rays.
Are these products worth the cost? Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., who is an associate clinical professor of dermatology at George Washington University Medical Center, doesn’t think we need to start shelling out big bucks just yet, since damage from HEV light has yet to reach the emergency threshold. Dr. Tanzi warns that the sun is still the biggest source of skin damage, so “it’s crucial not to forgo sunscreen in favor of an HEV guard.”
'Tech neck' can give you shar-pei jowls
Using your phone won’t just wrinkle your face. Think about how you hold your phone — most times you’re looking down at it, right? Multiple times per day. This repetitive movement can lead to wrinkles in the neck and chin area, as well as saggy, droopy jowls. Dr. Tanzi reveals that, over recent years, she’s seen a number of patients in their 30s with neck and jowl wrinkles that she never used to see in anyone under 50.
There is no product that can prevent tech (or text) neck, nor any treatment short of aggressive laser therapy or skin fillers. If it’s not too late, though, you can always try prevention: Hold your phone higher, so you’re looking up, not down, into the screen. Plus, never walk and text. Not only might you get hit by a car (yeah, yeah, you know), but bending your head to look down at your phone as you do so could also have you go out with a neck like Jabba the Hutt.
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