How Your Phone Is Ruining Your Skin

by | Aug 2, 2017 | Blog

 

First Derm Phone Skin

In this day and age there’s hardly a waking moment where we are not on our smartphones. From emails, to news, to our friends being available at the tip of our fingertips, it’s difficult for us to separate ourselves from our mobile devices. We’re glued to them like they’re a part of our body.

Unfortunately, our attachment to cellular devices can be detrimental to our health, and especially our skin. We’re here to inform you on how your smartphone can be causing unnecessary skin problems.

 

The Problem: Talking on the Phone

It’s rare for most of us to talk on the phone nowadays, but we do touch our phone screens and then our faces many times a day. We carry our phone with us everywhere, unknowingly exposing it to different environments and different bacteria. In fact, Time Magazine reported that 1 in 6 cell phones are contaminated with fecal matter. Yuck!

The transfer of bacteria from our phones is a frequent cause of why pimples appear. Dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe states, “The friction from rubbing your phone against your skin can cause a phenomenon called acne mechanica.”

The Solution: Disinfect Your Phone Screen Between Uses

Regularly cleaning your phone screen eliminates bacteria from contaminating your skin and causing unwanted acne. In addition, try opting for headsets or earphones when answering phone calls.

 

The Problem: Scrolling Through Our Phone Late at Night

Research indicates that smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices emit blue light–a type of light that suppresses melatonin production. Melatonin is a sleep-inducing hormone that the body naturally releases to aid us to sleep. Suppressed melatonin production then throws off our REM sleep cycles. This not only affects the quality of our sleep, but also our energy the next morning.

Lack of sleep alters more than just energy levels, studies show that it also contributes to dark circles, dull skin, rough skin texture, lack of collagen production, and even inflammation that leads to acne, eczema, and skin allergy outbreaks.

The Solution: Turn Your Phone Off 30 Minutes Before Bed

Turn off or set aside your phone well before bed to halt any temptation of checking emails, messages, or social media. Rather, read a book, meditate, or listen to music. By being regularly well-rested, your skin can focus on repairing itself, allowing for acne, dullness, and other skin concerns to subside.

 

The Problem: Squinting To Read On Your Phone

By squinting your eyes to read small text on such small screens you’re putting unnecessary stress on the area around your eyes. This can cause signs of aging like crow’s feet and fine lines around the eyes to appear at a younger age.

The Solution: Increase Font Size

Increase the font size in the settings and watch how your eyes relax. A bigger font helps you read articles, emails, and messages on your phone with ease. By reducing the pressure on the eyes, the surrounding skin can relax, and the chances of wrinkles appearing on your skin decreases as well.

 

While our addiction to our phones may not subside any time soon, we can practice healthier habits. By understanding how our smartphones impact our bodies, we can take better steps to alter the way our skin is impacted by technology. Contact a board-certified dermatologist today and get an evaluation of your skin concerns!

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