HEALTH REPORT
bluelight Spotlight on
W hat is blue light? And what effect does it have on your eyes, your sleep and your skin? Read on to find out more. Blue light is in the news – and not for good reasons. In the modern world, as we constantly flick on energy-saving lights and check smartphone, TV, tablet and computer screens, human beings are more exposed to ‘blue’ light sources, and for longer, than ever before. Why is it called blue light? Because different light wavelengths have different effects. Blue wavelengths have a stimulating effect on mood and energy: this might be useful during the day, but at night they can throw the body’s biological clock – the circadian rhythm – out of balance and upset sleep and metabolism. This is thought to happen by disrupting the secretion of melatonin, the hormone that controls circadian rhythms (although other elements may play a role), and
but they also produce more blue light than older incandescent ones. The good news? You can protect your skin from both UVA and UVB and blue/HEV light by eating a diet rich in antioxidantsfromfreshfruitandvegetables, and also through the topical application of skincare products which provide natural antioxidants that strengthen the skin’s resistance to environmental damage. We love The Jojoba Company’s new Ultimate Day Cream for this reason – it contains a unique ingredient called Arctalis, a fermented marine active sourced from the ocean under the aurora of the Northern Lights, which has been clinically proven to protect the skin from damage caused by blue/HEV light exposure. Clinical tests have shown a dramatic 53 per cent decrease in blue light damage to skin in just four days. The Jojoba Company Ultimate Day Cream also contains vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from environmental damage. Akoactive Garuda, which is a mix of orchid and magnolia extracts, also features in this cream and is clinically proven to reduce skin sagging and increase skin elasticity.
can potentially cause health problems: diabetes, obesity, depression, heart problems and cancer are all linked to sleep disorders. While light of any kind at night – such as experienced by shift workers – can affect melatonin, blue light seems to have a stronger effect. In one Harvard University study, exposure to blue light
Blue wavelengths have a stimulating effect on mood and energy: this might be useful during the day, but at night they can upset sleep and metabolism.
at night was shown to suppress melatonin secretion for twice as long as exposure to light of another colour wavelength. Nor are phone and computer screens the only culprit; ironically, we may be undermining our health with environmentally-friendly LED light bulbs - they are energy-efficient,
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ISSUE 54 • 2019
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