Most of us can readily admit that we are somewhat addicted to our cell phones. Whether scrolling for fun, or using it for work, chances are you spend hours on your phone every day. And while the benefits of having a cell phone are plenty, there are a few things to be aware of when it comes to your skin. Cell phones can affect the skin on your face and neck, especially when used constantly.
Acne
Cell phones are very dirty, and probably do not get cleaned as often as they should. After touching them throughout the day, dirt, makeup, oil, and bacteria can build up on the screen. And every time you put the phone to your face to make a call, these are reintroduced to the skin which can clog pores and lead to breakouts, particularly in the chin and side of the face. The best way to avoid the buildup of bacteria is to clean your phone every day.
The Skin Care Solution: Make sure that you are washing your face thoroughly if you are prone to acne breakouts. A product that is designed to fight acne and control oil will neutralize bacteria to prevent future breakouts. Skin care products that promote cell renewal, such as a retinoid can also help.
Premature Aging
Who knew the light from cell phones and other devices can have a negative impact on the skin? Using your cell phone too much can cause you to age faster. Too much visible light from devices can create inflammation and can lead to wrinkles. And squinting at small text all day can result in crow’s feet around the eyes.
The Skin Care Solution: There are a variety of skin care methods that combat fine lines and wrinkles. A chemical exfoliation, such as a peel can be effective. For deeper creases or textural change, laser resurfacing with PRP(platelet-rich plasma) will stimulate collagen production and turn over cells faster.
Dark Circles
If you are scrolling on your cell phone into the wee hours of the morning, then it could be disrupting your sleep. The LED light from the phone or tablet can throw off your internal sleep rhythm, making it more difficult to get to REM. And if you leave your phone on at night, the notifications from email, social media, and text can disrupt your sleep. Lack of sleep can cause dark circles around your eyes, inflammation, and a dull completion.
The Skin Care Solution: There are many moisturizers and creams that can help reduce the appearance of dark circles. Ingredients like aloe, caffeine, vitamin E, retinol, and hyaluronic acid are the most effective against undereye circles.
Skin Allergies
If you have a rash on your face, your cell phone could be the reason. Research has shown that nickel and chromium found in cell phone casings can cause a reaction on the skin known as allergic contact dermatitis. While not all cell phone brands contain nickel, and not everyone is sensitive to the mineral, make sure your phone is covered in a plastic case to prevent irritation to your face and hands.
The Skin Care Solution: Skin allergies can be difficult to treat as they often take time to resolve. An anti-itch cream or ointment that contains 1% hydrocortisone will calm the irritation down. For a bad allergic reaction, an oral antihistamine might be needed or a visit to your doctor could be in order.
Dark Spots
The heat from the phone pressed up against your face can cause unwanted discoloration. The additional heat can interfere with normal melanin production, which can lead to dark spots and an uneven skin tone.
The Skin Care Solution: Hydroquinone creams and serums lighten, brighten, and diminish dark spots with time. Products that contain retinoic acid increase cell turnover and promote new and healthy skin growth. A more aggressive option for lightening dark spots is laser treatment, which uses concentrated light energy to target the darker pigment.
Tech Neck
The skin on your face is not the only part of the body that can be affected by constant cell phone use. The neck and decolletage areas are among the first to show signs of aging. Tech Neck, which is caused by constantly looking down at your phone (or screen) can result in increased creasing in the neck. When possible raise your device to eye level to prevent the symptoms of Tech Neck. Since the skin on the neck is very delicate, it can easily be affected by the repetitive movement of looking down. After time the skin on the neck will lose elasticity, which can make it appear crepey.
The Skin Care Solution: A chemical exfoliation, such as a peel on the neck area is helpful. For deeper creases or textural change, laser resurfacing with PRP (platelet-rich plasma) will stimulate collagen production and turn over cells faster. Some other nonsurgical treatments include ultrasound-based or radio frequency-based skin-tightening treatments, or Botox injections which temporarily relax the muscle and improve the appearance of neck bands.
Improved Skin
You can counteract the negative affects on your skin from cell phones and other technological devices with a variety of skin care solutions. BB Aesthetic has skin care solutions to improve any skin issues caused by cell phones. Contact us today to discuss which one would be best for you.
