Digital Eyes
When the pandemic started in early last year, I doubt many of us thought about the implications on the amount of time we spend in front of computers and other electronic devices. Yet here we are, many of us having transitioned to remote work or learning, and spending the vast majority of our lives facing a screen. As I sit here in front of my computer with tired eyes, I think about my current eye and skin care routine and have the realization that it really has changed dramatically. With this in mind, now is the time to treat your skin with extra care. Regardless of your age, it’s never to late to start.
First we need to understand how the eye area differs from the rest of your skin. Being thinner and more delicate, this area can easily be the first to show the signs of premature aging without proper care. Eye specific products are your best friends to fight fine lines, puffiness, dark circles and more. Genetics, external stressors, lifestyle choices and yes….screen time all contribute to how pronounced these issues show up, and how early or late in life.
What many people don’t realize is that all the time we spend in front of electronic screens is exposing us to blue light rays that are just as bad for us as UV rays. Blue light is a low wavelength, high energy light that has the potential to damage eyes, prematurely age skin and interfere with our circadian rhythms. Blue light is everywhere in our world. At one point the only source of blue light was from the sun but we have brought blue light inside by way of digital screens (TVs, Smartphones, computers, laptops, tablets and gaming systems, LED and fluorescent lighting. And it’s not just the amount of time that we spend exposed that is a concern now….as we work more and more on mobile devices, we’re actually holding these much closer to our face, so proximity is a big issue. (bluelightexposed.com)
The next time you snap a selfie, zoom in for a closer look. Are wrinkles around your eyes starting to deepen? How about puffiness and dark circles, are they more noticeable? Research shows blue light from electronic devices can lead to changes in your skin cells, including cell shrinkage and cell death speeding up the aging process. Even exposures as short as 60 minutes can trigger these changes.
So how do we combat this new enemy? Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
Moisturizing the skin around your eyes may not be a routine most men participate in. But if you value your youthful skin, now is the time to get started! Check out OM4’s Eyebright Age Defying Moisture Complex and Radical Fine Line Eraser. OM4 Organic Male is the first skin type and condition-specific professional men’s line on the leading edge of performance-based, green science organics specifically for men.
The sad truth is screen time isn’t going to slow down anytime soon. In fact, as technology continues to evolve our screen time will most likely only increase. So start today by taking preventative steps to keep your skin healthy and protected. And don’t forget, show some extra love to those baby blues.
Written by Jennifer Sposato
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