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How to Care for Your Skin in the Digital Age

By Kaitlyn McLintock

Here’s a fun (read: frightening) activity. Sit back and add up the amount of time you spend working on your computer on any given day. Take that number and add the amount of time you spend on your phone. Add any remaining screen time, including but not limited to Netflix binges, online shopping, and time spent scrolling through news sites. The number you end up represents how long your skin is being exposed to potentially damaging light emitted from digital devices. This high energy visible light (HEV light), otherwise referred to as blue light, could be affecting the health of your skin in more ways than one.

Research tells us that blue light can cause skin damage. More specifically, it can cause hyperpigmentation and premature signs of aging. It causes the former by inducing inconsistent melanin production in the skin. It causes the latter by exposing your cells to oxidative stress, or free radicals, which damage the collagen in your skin, leading to such signs of aging as fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.

That’s the bad news, but there’s good news, too. There are steps you can take to minimize the effect of blue light. From keeping an eye on your screen time to using antioxidant-rich skincare products, keep reading to learn more about how to care for your skin in the digital age.

Reduce Screen Time (If You Can)

The first and most obvious step in protecting your skin from an exorbitant amount of blue light exposure is to minimize your screen time. Even though that’s not always feasible when it comes to professional life (especially if, due to recent events, your laptop has become your office), there are ways to stay conscious of the time you’re spending on screens for other reasons. For example, limit time spent scrolling through social media to a few minutes each day. Track your screen time on your phone. Schedule screen-free time in your calendar, so you feel the freedom to walk away from your computer for a specific amount of time. At the very least, switch your phone display to night shift, which minimizes the amount of blue light it emanates.

Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Sleep

Because there’s evidence that blue light disrupts our natural circadian rhythm (aka our sleep-wake cycle), it’s important to prioritize sleep, especially if you’re spending most of your day staring at a screen. After all, research links sleep deprivation with acceleration in physical signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. Sleep deprivation could also harm our skin’s natural reparative processes, meaning damage and inflammation could ensue from not getting enough shut-eye.

Load Up on Antioxidant Protection

We’ve already discussed how blue light exposes your skin to oxidative stress, or free radicals, which can damage collagen and lead to physical signs of aging. Antioxidants prevent free radicals from damaging the skin, which is the reason antioxidant-rich ingredients are so prevalent in blue light skincare products.

The efficacy of antioxidant-rich skincare is exactly why Dr. Goldfaden formulated the Mist Rx Daily Nutrient Face Mist with aloe vera, kale sprout water, Kakadu plum, and plant & fruit stem cells—all of which have antioxidant properties to fight free radical damage, thus mitigating the harmful effects of blue light on our skin.

While these blue-light-blocking tactics are all worth practicing, it’s important to note that our main source of blue light exposure is from the sun (and no, sunscreen won’t necessarily protect your skin. Remember that sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays, not HEV…). This is something to keep in mind, lest we panic and blame our ceaseless Zoom meetings for damaging our skin beyond repair. It’s likely that our skin is happy and healthy if we remain conscious of our health and lifestyle habits, focus on getting good, quality sleep, nourish our skin with the right protective skincare products, and schedule regular check-ins with a dermatologist.

ABOUT THE WRITER:

Kaitlyn McLintock is a beauty and wellness writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in such publications as Popsugar, Byrdie, Hello Giggles, Who What Wear, and more. When she’s not writing, researching, and editing, or testing out the latest skincare and makeup products, she’s drinking coffee and spritzing Goldfaden’s Mist RX all over her skin.

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A Globetrotter’s Guide To A Blissful Skincare Regime

At this point in quarantine, a sweet escape from your bucket list sounds heaven-sent and much needed. Let’s face it, travel blues are a real thing, especially for wanderers who live for passport stamps. Thankfully, the world of skincare provides a global beauty getaway within minutes. Exploring formulas and ingredients can take you to new places as you understand the origin and science behind those youthful, hydrating, and radiant results. International trips are officially on pause; however, experts agree, healthy, glowing at-home facials are timeless. Use your skincare routine to teleport you wherever your heart desires. Create a luxurious spa-inspired regiment with global beauty gems from different parts of the world. Since vacationing feels and looks different this year, get ready for a beauty voyage beyond your wildest dreams with an array of products. You’ll feel rejuvenated and refreshed as if you just got back from a peaceful trip. Let’s stamp our beauty passports with Mexico, Turkey, and South Africa with botanical-infused elements below. 

Bring to life at-home a relaxing aromatherapy facial massage from a five-star spa resort in Mexico. As you teleport yourself within a tropical atmosphere, prepare to enjoy a celebrity-approved skincare encounter.  Formulated with Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Co-Enzyme Q10, avocado oil, Dr. Goldfaden’s Overnight Creamy Facial Treatment ($85), will leave you with luminous, youthful-looking skin. The buttery texture comes from avocados found in west-central Mexico, where there are sunny skies year-round. Stroke your temples as you experience the super surge of hydration from the miracle jar. Along with powerful anti-aging and moisturizing benefits, the firming ingredients help reduce fine lines, while creating long-lasting hydration overnight. While the avocado oil boosts a dewy finish, it’s essential to know the other elements at play within this beauty buy. The Co-Enzyme also aids skin from pollution, while the alpha-lipoic acid reduces the appearance of puffiness. Begin to massage the creamy texture all over and watch the instant results flourish in less than 24-hours.

Next stop, Turkey! Famous for its sizzling hot summers, this destination requires a dose of hydration and coolness. Today, dark circles around the eyes due to lack of sleep are one of the most significant skincare concerns. Hence why we’re tapping into the country’s most celebrated fruit, apricot as a skincare superfood. As you envision yourself exploring the colorful vibrancy Istanbul has to offer, try Dr. Goldfaden’s Dark Circle Radiance Concentrate ($55). The eye cream is full of prestigious elements such as Soy Peptide, Arnica Tincture, Hyaluronic acid, and apricot kernels. Together the properties brighten, minimize darkness, puffiness, and fine lines, and provide a youthful-looking finish. The travel to the Mediterranean destination with this experience will simply be unforgettable. 

Visualize yourself on a South African safari. Take a moment to envision discovering the elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and zebras as well as other species. That’s right, one encounter with Dr. Goldfaden’s Ruby Crystal Power Exfoliator ($98) will take you there. Filled with South African Organic Red Tea Extract, Ruby Crystals, seaweed extract, and hyaluronic acid, this multi-purpose scrub does it all. Treat yourself to a weekly exfoliating treatment that removes dead skin, dirt, and oils for brighter, smoother, and more radiant skin. Rich with antioxidants and vitamins from the tea extract and ruby crystals, the cruelty-free exfoliatin also firms and soothes the skin.  

Here’s to taking more beauty-inspired trip worth your wild in real life soon, until then open your cabinets and explore the world of ingredients. Allow your lotions and potions to take you places you’ve never been to!

Ashley Jimenez’s Bio

Ashley Jimenez is a multi-media journalist and Co-Founder of LatinaWatch. She oversees LatinaWatch.com and all of the website’s editorial and video content and strategy, as well as social media channels. As the former Beauty Director of HOLA! USA, the Puerto Rican-Dominican reporter, is an expert in identifying trends, highlighting multicultural content, and exploring thoughtful conversations within the influential Latina beauty segment. Her past roles include Senior Beauty Editor at Latina Magazine, where she created beauty, wellness, and lifestyle content specifically for women of color. She explored intersections of vision, Afro-Latina identity within the hair industry, socially conscious skin care, mental health topics. Ashley’s dedication to storytelling has created groundbreaking content that speaks to the duality women face as they navigate the world while honoring traditions and crafting new age customs.

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Ask Dr. G – Body Skin Conditions + Why Exfoliation Is The Key to Healthy Skin!  

After 50 years of practicing Dermatology and treating diseases of the skin, Dr. Goldfaden has seen the full spectrum of skin conditions. “The skin on your body is as important as the skin on your face.” Choosing clean body products can target and correct the most common body issue most people are dealing with. Dr. G created our NEW Body Collection to extend healthy skin care from the chest down. Our Doctor’s Body Scrub is a multi-active scrub features micro-fine exfoliating crystals, skin-softening Bamboo Extract, skin-brightening Fruit Enzymes, soothing Probiotic-fermented Extract, and antioxidant-rich Red Algae. After exfoliating, Firm Believer Body Serum offers elasticity enhancing Radish Root Extract and skin softening Marula Oil and Shea Butter. Hyaluronic Acid helps to hydrate and plump skin while a combination of Brown + Red Algae along with Coffee & Gotu Kola Extracts work to increase microcirculation while helping to firm and tone the skin.

We asked Dr. G to weigh in on common body skin conditions (and some you may not have heard of) and how exfoliation is still the most important and effective part of your skincare regimen. Of course if you think you may be suffering from any of the below, you should see your dermatologist for a formal diagnosis, but in the meantime taking time to care and treat your body at home will not only make your skin glow but also make you feel good.

Keratosis Pilaris

What is it: A very common especially in females and children.  Keratosis Pilaris is caused by a buildup of keratin, excess skin and oil which blocks the hair follicle causing little bumps (often white) under the skin’s surface. Found on the arms and thighs. Very commonly this is an inherited condition and people may refer to it as ‘chicken skin’.

How to help: Exfoliation won’t cure Keratosis Pilaris but it can help the roughness of the skin and the appearance of the bumps. Physical exfoliants (like a scrub) can assist in smoother, more even-textured skin, while a chemical exfoliant such as Lactic, Glycolic or fruit acids can work in tandem to smooth skin out.  Hydrating the skin is also very important when treating Keratosis Pilaris.

Xerosis

What is it:  The medical term for ‘excess dry skin’, Xerosis is caused by lack of moisture in the skin. This can be caused by dry climates, cold weather, artificial heating and aging.

How to help: Regular exfoliation of the body will remove dead, dry skin allowing active hydrating ingredients to treat the skin. Systemic hydration (drinking water, eating foods high with a high-water content and topical hydration (serums, moisturizers, lotions and creams) are crucial to reverse and treat Xerosis.

Ichthyosis

What is it:  An inherited condition, which can vary in severity. Most commonly found on the legs, however, can be all over the body in more severe cases. Ichthyosis coming from the Greek word for ‘fish’ appears as dry, thickened, scaly skin.

How to help: Exfoliation will help this condition by removing dry, scaly skin. Use of a very hydrating body lotion or cream is preferred.

Teania Versicolor

What is it: Meaning ‘fungus of many colors’, Tinea Versicolor appears as white patchy, flat splotches usually found on the upper arms and face. More noticeable when the skin gets sun or tanned.

How to help: Exfoliation is excellent for the removal of the superficial fungus and dead skin.

Backne, Chest Breakouts and Butt Bumps

What are they:  Little or big bumps/pimples that show up on the back, the chest and the butt. All are considered acne and can be caused by hormones, clothing friction, cosmetic products/SPF that are too heavy or bacteria left behind from sweat and dirt. The overproduction of oil causes hair follicles to get clogged causing inflammation which is the pimple or bump that surfaces. You’re more prone to getting pimples and breakouts on your back vs. the face in general because those areas have high concentrations of hair follicles and sebaceous glands (glands that secrete an oily matter called sebum) which when clogged, cause breakouts. The skin located on the back is also very think and endures a different environment altogether. The back area is typically clothed, so the skin can’t breathe as easily and experiences conditions such as; sweat build-up, wearing tight and restrictive clothing when exercising and not showering after. This can lead to clogged hair follicles, over oil production, and acne.

How to help: Always shower after working out or sweating. Try and not sit around in damp workout clothing. Regular exfoliation unplugs clogged pores and allows for the release of natural skin oils. Regular exfoliation also helps to maintain open pores, decreases pore size, minimizes many types of superficial scarring and ward off bacteria which causes breakouts and rashes. Try switching to a lightweight body serum or oil-free lotion for the warmer months.

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