how-your-phone-is-damaging-your-skin-eric-s-treiber

Walking through the waiting room at Treiber Dermatology, Dr. Eric Treiber sees patients of all races, and skin tones, all waiting to be seen for an array of skin issues. However, one thing they all generally have in common is that they are glued to their phones. In today’s world, it’s hard to find a single person, of any age, who doesn’t spend most of their waking hours on their smartphone. From ordering lunch to checking the weather, to handling our finances, society has come to rely on smartphones for almost everything! They have basically evolved into an extra appendage. Despite this reliance on smartphones, and their obvious benefit to making our lives easier, these devices can be a huge detriment to our health, especially our skin.

Our smartphones go with us everywhere, they see what we see, feel what we feel. As we carry them around, we unknowingly expose them to different environments and bacteria from the atmosphere. These bacteria often build up right on our phone screens. And as we constantly touch the screen, and put the screen against our faces, this bacteria is transferred onto our skin, leaving us susceptible to acne outbreaks and other infections. Recent studies have shown that 1 in every 6 smartphones are even contaminated with fecal matter, while others were found to have traces of E. coli.

Not only are our phones seemingly a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, they also emit certain types of light that effect the body’s melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone our body naturally produces in order to induce sleep. When it is released it gives us calm, restful REM sleep, which helps to revitalize our bodies as well as our minds. Our smartphones, and many electronic devices, emit a special blue light. This light is especially harmful to us before bed, a time when many of us are scrolling through those last few tweets or “liking” our friend’s latest Instagram post. As the light suppresses melatonin, we are unable to enter REM sleep. Without adequate rest, our bodies suffer a number of issues, including:

·         Dark circles & under-eye bags

·         Dull skin

·         Rough, dry, flaky skin

·         Lack of collagen production. Collagen is necessary to grow new skin cells, and it provides us the smooth, supple skin we want.

·         Lack of energy

·         Inflammation

·         Acne, eczema, and allergy breakouts

Luckily, these common issues can be resolved with a few simple lifestyle changes. Dr. Eric Treiber recommends that his patients regularly disinfect their phone screens, if not daily, then at least a few times a week. Bacteria can build-up quickly, so it’s important to keep pace.

Dr. Eric Treiber also recommends that patients turn their phone’s off 30 minutes before bed, or at least keep them out of sight.