There is very little doubt that today’s generation love taking selfies. You see it all over social media and even offline, in the real world, with people everywhere wielding selfie sticks.
But now doctors are speaking out against the harmful effects of selfies; dermatologists believe that exposure to electromagnetic radiation from smartphones speeds up ageing and wrinkles.
Image source: iStock
According to a report by New Zealand Herald, doctors even claim they can tell which hand a person holds their phone in just by looking at which side of the face is most damaged.
“Those who take a lot of selfies and bloggers should worry. Even the blue light from our screens can damage our skin,” said Dr Simon Zoakei during FACE’s conference on aesthetics and anti-ageing.
“I think there is a gap in the market for products which protect, because there are people who take lots of selfies, and bloggers who come to me,” he added. “I have seen that there are damage and ageing taking place. It’s a different wavelength of radiation so sunscreen will not block it.”
Even one of the most respected dermatologists in the industry, Dr. Zein Obagi, of the Obagi Skin Health Institute in Beverley Hills, echoes this concern.
“Your cellphone will damage your skin,” he said. “I can tell whether someone uses their right hand or left hand to hold their phone. You start to see a dull, dirty-looking texture you cannot identify on one side of the face.”
Image source: iStock
Because of this new revelation, Dr. Zein is calling for the development of a “defence mechanism” against the effects of smartphones.
“This magnetic field is altering the minerals in the skin,” he added. “But if you saturate your skin with anti-oxidants it can help prevent DNA damage.”
Experts also believe that rapid ageing is caused by electromagnetic radiation damaging the skin’s DNA, thus preventing it from repairing itself.
Furthermore, most topical products like oils and moisturisers don’t work against the harmful effects of taking selfies.
“A good scrub” remains as one of the best ways to keep the skin healthy.
Image source: iStock
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