How to Protect Your Skin From Visible Light | Lab Muffin Beauty Science

Summary

Lab Muffin's video delves into the effects of visible light, particularly blue light, on skin health. It explains the difference between UV, visible, and infrared light, highlighting that blue and violet light, due to their high energy, can cause skin damage similar to UV rays. The video discusses the impact of different colors in the visible spectrum on skin, emphasizing that blue light can lead to pigmentation and free radical production. It suggests protection methods, including the use of antioxidants and avoiding direct exposure to light, and hints at upcoming content on blue light from screens.

Takeaways

• 💡 Visible light, particularly blue and violet light, can cause skin damage, similar to UV rays.
• 🌞 The Sun's light consists of 3-7% UV, 44% visible light, and 53% infrared radiation.
• 🔵 Blue and violet light, which fall between 400-500 nanometers, have higher energy and are most likely to damage the skin.
• 🔬 Research on the effects of visible light on the skin is still developing, and past studies may not be fully accurate.
• ⚠️ Blue light increases skin pigmentation and dark spots, especially in people with darker skin tones.
• 🧬 Free radicals produced by blue light can damage skin cells, leading to aging and other skin issues.
• 🟥 Red light, unlike blue light, doesn't harm skin and may even speed up skin recovery.
• 🧴 Sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are less effective against visible light, but iron oxide in foundations can offer some protection.
• 🍃 Antioxidants like vitamin E and certain plant extracts can help reduce skin damage from visible light.
• 🕶️ Avoiding exposure through shade, hats, and clothing is a recommended strategy to protect the skin from visible light damage.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script by Lab Muffin?

The main focus of the video script is to discuss the effects of visible light, particularly blue light, on the skin and how it can cause damage similar to UV rays.

What are the three types of light emitted by the Sun mentioned in the script?

The three types of light emitted by the Sun mentioned are ultraviolet (UV) light, visible light, and infrared (IR) radiation.

What is the energy level of UV light compared to visible light and infrared light?

UV light has shorter wavelengths and higher energy compared to visible light and infrared light, which have longer wavelengths and lower energy respectively.

Why is blue light of particular interest when discussing visible light damage to the skin?

Blue light is of particular interest because it, along with violet light, has the shortest wavelengths and highest energy within the visible light spectrum, making it more likely to cause damage to the skin.

What is HEV light and why is it significant?

HEV light stands for high-energy visible light, which includes blue and violet light. It is significant because it has been found to cause damage to the skin similar to UV damage due to its high energy.

How does the damage caused by blue light compare to that caused by UV light?

While both blue light and UV light cause skin damage, they have different effects. UV light directly damages DNA and causes specific microscopic changes in the skin, whereas blue light is thought to cause damage through the production of nitric oxide and free radicals.

What role do free radicals play in the skin damage caused by visible light?

Free radicals, produced by visible light, are highly reactive and can attack substances in the skin like DNA and proteins, leading to skin damage that results in an uneven texture.

How do different colors of visible light affect the skin differently according to the script?

Different colors of visible light can have opposite effects on the skin. For example, blue light has been shown to cause skin cell death and increase pigmentation, while red light has no effect on cell death and can speed up skin recovery.

What is the difference in the pigmentation caused by UVA1 and visible light in people with darker skin?

UVA1 causes a grayish pigment that slowly turns brown, while visible light causes a brown pigmentation immediately.

How much more visible light is needed compared to UV light to have a noticeable effect on the skin?

Studies have found that between 8 to 30 times as much visible light is needed compared to UV light in terms of joules per square centimeter to have a noticeable effect on the skin.

What are some ways to protect the skin from visible light damage?

Some ways to protect the skin from visible light damage include using products with antioxidants, staying in the shade, wearing hats and protective clothing, and using ingredients like iron oxide that can protect against visible light.