Look away now! The blue light from your phone could be AGEING your skin
Unlike UVA and UVB light it is not linked to skin cancer, but it can still have an effect on your face
ARE you one of those people who are constantly looking on your phone or tablet?
And if you aren't checking social media on your phone are you binge watching TV on your laptop?
We've got some upsetting news for you - all that light from your screen could be ageing your skin.
Known as high energy visible light it is a natural part of sunlight, but is also emitted from your electronic devices.
Unlike UVA and UVB light it is not linked to skin cancer, but it can still have an effect on your face.
Too much exposure to high-energy light can accelerate ageing, research suggests.
The study of nine people, published in the journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, found that the carotenoids in peoples skin decreased with exposed to high-energy light.
Carotenoids help give your skin its colour and a lack of it can cause age spots and discolouration.
But Dr Sweta Rai, a spokeswoman for the British Association of Dermatologists, said the study did not find any definitive ageing associated with exposure to high energy light.
What the study did note was that the light from your phone can cause pigmentation, which can create the illusion of being older.
"There aren’t really any trials that show it can cause ageing," she said.
"It can cause some pigmentation problems and they can give you a falsely aged appearance, we see that often in darker skin people.
"If you look at a pristine face and put brown spots on it it will look aged from sun damage."
"There is some truth to the fact that blue light penetrates deeper into the skin compared to UV light.
"And that is being studied at the moment as to what effect it does have."
In fact, high-energy light may even be beneficial for the skin, Dr Rai said.
MORE ON ANTI-AGEING
"There are so many low-level light devices that are being used to treat skin conditions from acne to alopecia to scarring," she added.
So the bottom line?
You probably don't need to throw your phone away just yet, but if you are worried about ageing it wouldn't hurt to reduce your screen time and may introduce an anti-ageing cream into your skin care routine.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368