Ida is a certified aesthetician (graduate of Marvel School of Beauty), offering home-based services since 1994. Ida provides various holistic services; she graduated from Zanqara’s Holistica Skin Care’s Dermatician course in 1994, which required her to understand homeopathic remedies.
Electronic devices, including fluorescent lights, LED TVs, computer monitors, smartphones, and tablets, emit blue light. While these artificial forms of blue light are significantly less damaging to our pigmentation than the sun's UVA and UVB light, constant daily exposure can lead to dryness and premature aging and affect our health and sleep cycle. I share essential knowledge on the potential risks of prolonged exposure to these devices, nutrition to protect from its exposure, and other forms of blue light that benefit us.
Blue light therapy vs. blue light from electronic devices
Electronic devices: Emit wavelengths between 400-490 nanometers. They have a lower intensity and lack the precision of therapeutic devices. Depending on the device, failure to use eye protection to blue light could cause vision problems such as macular degeneration, cataracts, eye cancer, and growths in the transparent film covering the whites of the eye over time. The National Eye Institute concluded that because children's eyes absorb more light, they are at a greater risk of having vision problems when they view blue light emitted from electronic devices. Blue light emitted from electronic devices triggers pigmentation as a protective response. The constant use can provoke this. Blue light exposure can help set the body's sleep cycle upon waking from any shift. (circadian rhythm). The good and the bad of it is it suppresses melatonin production. Using electronic devices with the blue light on before bedtime is not advisable. Manufacturers have options available in the settings section of cell phones, TVs, computers, and tablets to personalize from blue to yellow light to suit your particular schedule.
Electronic home LED devices are available to treat depressed moods and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). These devices can help shift workers, housebound people, and people exposed to darker days. They enhance memory and brain function, generating a positive mood.
Blue light for the SAD device on Amazon
To protect your eyes from the damage that electronic blue light causes, eat foods that contain the carotenoid compounds lutein and zeaxanthin, which are beneficial for the eye, vitamin-rich foods such as squash, collard greens, kale, corn, asparagus, spinach, Swiss chard, peas, arugula, Brussels sprouts, orange peppers, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, yams, carrots, and egg yolks. Consume fish oils containing omega-3.
With its shortest wavelength and highest energy, Blue Light Therapy gives hope for many health conditions. It can emit LED, LLLT (low-level cold laser), photodynamic therapy, IPL, or laser in increasing order of strength. The use of eye protection with medical or cosmetic blue light therapy treatments targets controlled specific wavelengths of approximately 415-470 nm of blue light, and they safely penetrate the skin to improve its function and appearance, offering a promising solution for many health issues.
Pigmentation lightening and hyperpigmentation of blue light therapy
Blue light therapy balances acne treatment pigmentation by reducing redness and improving skin tone. It indirectly targets pigment cells and reduces inflammation and cellular activity. Depending on the application method and the underlying condition, prolonged exposure or high-intensity treatments could decrease the skin's pigment production in the treated area. The risk of hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation from controlled use is minimal.
Acne and skincare
Blue light therapy can also reduce sebaceous hyperplasia or enlarged oil glands. It is used in facial steamers, LED, LLLT (low-level cold laser), photodynamic therapy, IPL, or laser technology to kill bacteria that cause acne. Blue light has antimicrobial properties that are effective against certain bacterial and fungal infections- it weakens and kills the photosensitive bacteria on our skin responsible for acne. Some people have more success than others with blue-led light acne maintenance- this could be due to internal or external factors. It is also helpful in treating chronic inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis by calming inflammatory cells. It can help with sun-damaged skin repair and even acne scars.
Blue Intense Pulsed Light M22 eradicates Demodex mites in the eye area, which cause dry eyes. It's also practical for Demodex mites on the face, which cause rosacea and acne.
You can purchase Blue RubyLux LED lights directly from the US manufacturer using the link below.
Or
Photon LED Mask from Amazon
Dental aid
Blue light aids tooth bleaching by targeting selective common plaque-forming bacteria on teeth. For the same reason, it decreases potential cavities caused by select bacterial infections. It is popular in oral devices, with red and NIR LED lights. Brush before using them. Dentists use it to harden composite resins in restoration procedures.
Oral LED device on Amazon
Skin cancer and sun damage prevention
Blue light therapy treats sun damage and premalignant or malignant skin cancer growth. Dermatologists apply a photosensitive drug topically on suspected skin cancer and use high-quality blue light technology to prevent and remove some forms of actinic keratosis (precancerous sun spots) and cancerous nonmelanoma skin cancer lesions that haven't spread. Do not try to do this yourself. There are precautions to take since the treated area is very irritated and can blister or cause swelling. It requires time to heal afterward.
Respiratory and open wound infections and septicemia
With antibiotic resistance bacteria rising, a diverse range of bacteria, moulds, and yeasts, research trials studied blue light therapy on test tube suspensions, petri dish growth and living animal models in (pre-clinical and clinical trials.) Blue light therapy significantly reduced most germs strains in test tube suspension, petri dish, and open wound infections. Microorganisms are less able to develop resistance to Blue Light than to traditional antibiotics because Blue Light targets many characteristics of germs at the same time. The studies did not state whether the microorganisms in the researched data were as photosensitive as the acne-causing bacteria.
Studies demonstrated positive results when researchers directed a specific wavelength of medically designed blue light on the throat to reduce viral infections. Studies suggest that a particular blue light treatment reduces organ inflammation and injury from sepsis.
Arthritis and general pain relief
LLLT (Cold Laser) Blue light therapy offers a safe, non-invasive solution for pain relief. It reduces arthritis, muscle, and knee pain, providing long-lasting relief. Blue light stimulates cell production and has anti-inflammatory effects, which improve pain and wound healing.
Hair growth or hair loss?
Blue light therapy shows promising results in increasing hair growth in Alopecia patients because it may reduce bacteria or yeast overgrowth on the scalp, hindering hair growth. More importantly, its ability to reduce inflammation and increase cell growth may contribute to this effect, instilling hope and optimism in those seeking hair regrowth treatments.
Combining blue light with red and NIR light in low-level laser therapy (LLLT) devices demonstrates more success in hair regrowth treatments than blue light on its own.
Blue light facilitates hair loss in both men and women. It breaks and dries the hair follicles, leading to thin hair. Hemophiliacs (people whose blood won't clot) may benefit because there are hair-removing devices with it to prevent the skin from being unnecessarily cut. The design and intended use of the product determines the outcome. Not all patients may respond similarly; everyone has unique health issues. Consult a dermatologist or trichologist to ensure it suits your particular condition.
The FDA has rigorously tested and approved the following hair regrowth devices for safe results.
HairMax Lasercomb on Amazon®. low-light laser
Theradome LH80 PRO on Amazon ® helmet and helmets and caps.
Topical and internal sun protection
It's crucial to remember that not all sunscreens offer blue light protection because they block UV light in the invisible light spectrum; blue light's wavelength is on the visible light spectrum next to UV light. Use sunscreens with an iron oxide level of 3% or higher because they offer 20 times visible light protection and some UVA protection. Below, I've listed topical or internal blue light protection sunscreen or supplements you can add to your skin care regimen.
Heliocare tinted Sunscreen on Amazon
Heliocare Color Brown Sunscreen on Amazon
Polypodium Leucotomos Extract on Amazon from a tropical fern found in Central America with good SPF protection to prevent pigmentation problems
Astaxanthin on Amazon (derived from marine algae) protects your skin from radiation.
Resveratrol on Amazon (derived from grape seed extract) also protects your skin from radiation.
Contraindications
Be cautious when using blue light therapy. Wear eye protection during treatment sessions.
Excessive use of blue light might cause oxidation, which leads to adverse side effects.
Avoid bright, direct sunlight and light-sensitive drugs. Do not avoid fluorescent and LED lights.
LED light therapy is also not suitable for people with epilepsy and for people with photosensitive disorders (sun exposure causes adverse skin reactions /diseases).
Porphyria is a blood disorder and a photosensitive condition. It is caused by being allergic to porphyrins.
Lupus is a photosensitive disorder.
Some forms of Eczema or Psoriasis
Vitiligo (sun-sensitive disorder that mimics irregular bleaching of skin)
Photosensitive products are a concern when using light therapy.
Here is an article which discusses what to beware of:
Conclusion
While both involve blue light, therapy devices are carefully engineered for therapeutic applications, whereas electronic devices illuminate with blue light, and its cast can have unintended health effects. The key differences lie in eye protection, wavelength precision, intensity, and purpose of use. I've highlighted the benefits of various wavelengths and intensities of precautions to consider when using both. I've given you suggested Amazon affiliate products to use for some of the concerns. Blue light has different strengths from LED, LLLT (low-level cold laser), photodynamic therapy, IPL, or laser technology. Ensure the use of the product or devices for their intended purpose.
This information is for educational purposes only. If you have serious concerns, consult professionals. All information given is based on ongoing research.
Related articles you may be interested in:
How To Use Light Therapy For Teeth
Night Shift Sleeping Tips
Ida Fanelli, Aesthetician, Reflexologist, IPL Technician
Ida is a certified aesthetician (graduate of Marvel School of Beauty), offering home-based services since 1994. Ida provides various holistic services; she graduated from Zanqara’s Holistica Skin Care’s Dermatician course in 1994, which required her to understand homeopathic remedies. Ida has been a certified reflexologist since 1993 (graduate of D’Arcy Lane Institute). She has also been practicing Healing Energy since 1998 and has added the Ion Cleanse Foot Detox to her therapies. In 2012, Ida became a certified Sharplight Laser (IPL) Technician. She enjoys learning new techniques which can benefit her clients. In 2019, she received certification from the Center for Pain and Stress Research (CPSR.) She can now speed up the healing of scars and help with pain caused by surgical scars to her list of specialties.
She enjoys continuing her education in the complementary health field. Many can testify that Ida is committed to ensuring her clients access adequate and affordable quality service and treatment.
Beyond her many years of experience as a holistic practitioner, Ida draws on her 12 years of experience as a hospital laboratory technologist in Microbiology and Biochemistry.
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