By now, most of us are aware of the most common forms of skin stressors “out there-” too much sun exposure, air and water pollution, and, of course, commercial sunscreens, moisturizers, and make-up riddled with toxic chemicals.

But what about stressors that may be “under the radar?” One hidden factor that can literally make or break the vitality and longevity of your skin is electropollution.

Electro…what?

Electropollution is another name for the harmful radiation, or electromagnetic frequencies (i.e., EMFs) that come from technology– everything from cell phones and cell towers to SMART meters, wi-fi routers, and dirty electricity. If you spend hours a day staring at a laptop or phone, or spend more than just an hour or two per day near another EMF-outputting device, your skin may be experiencing the effects of too much technology!

Why Technology?

Unless you live entirely off-grid and away from major population areas, odds are you probably spend a large portion of your time close to some harmful EMF-emitting technology. Sources can include:

• cell phones
• wi-fi routers
• tablets
• laptop or desktop computers
• microwaves and other kitchen appliances
• bathroom and bedroom appliances
• artificial (LED) lighting
• power tools
• SMART TVs
• Bluetooth devices
• GPS systems
• neighborhood 5G towers
• major cell towers
• SMART meters
• electrical transformers
• radio and satellite antennas
• dirty electricity that comes from old or malfunctioning electrical wiring
• SMART homes, neighborhoods, and entire communities

The National Institutes of Health defines EMFs as “invisible areas of energy.” EMFs in and of themselves are not always a bad thing. In fact, most living things emit EMFs, including our bodies, the planet, and the sun. The harm depends on the frequency. For example, EMFs that the earth emits naturally from the ground are proven to be very healing to the body. On the other hand, EMFs emitted from lightning can be deadly. (1)  

Evidence suggests that electropollution emitted from the technology we encounter daily can damage our health when we are in close contact with it for long periods. The Bio-Initiative Report, first published in 2012 and recently updated in 2022, is one of the most comprehensive studies to prove specific health dangers from manufactured sources of EMF. These dangers include increased oxidative stress and damage at the cellular level that can pave the way for cancer, heart disease, and more. Of particular concern are cell phones. Studies that go back to the “2G” era (about 20 years ago) have found a correlation between close-to-the-face cell phone use and brain cancer. (2)

Blue Light and the Skin

When it comes to the skin, eyes, and nervous system, there is another threat from the long-term use of laptops, tablets, computers, and cell phones. The threat is even greater at nighttime. “Blue light,” also known as High Energy Visible (HEV) light, is the kind of light that the sun emits. But guess what? This HEV light also comes from screens. Eye strain, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, and skin-related conditions such as dry spots, rashes, spotting, acne, and wrinkling can all be consequences of long-term exposure to screen-related blue light. This is mainly caused by the fact that hours in front of the screen can wear down and weaken the skin’s natural collagen.

The solution? First, never (ever!) put your phone close to your face, in your pocket, or in your bra; Cancer can develop in these areas of close contact. (3) Secondly, turn devices off at night! Research proves that this one act alone can significantly help regulate melatonin levels, a hormonal substance responsible for regulating the sleep cycle. A study conducted by researchers at New York’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that blue light exposure significantly lowered nighttime melatonin levels. Red light exposure, however, did not affect melatonin. (4) If you want to know more about how important sleep is for skin health, be sure to read this article!

If you must “burn the midnight oil,” try using a blue light filter app on your phone or computer. Dozens are available online, including many free apps. And for extra protection, look no further than CHARLíS! Experts state that the best topical protection from screen-derived UVs are formulas that include iron oxide as well as antioxidants like vitamin C. (5)

Our Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer and our SPF25 Neutral-Tinted Face Moisturizer are the perfect combination for daily use. Our Daily Moisturizer is packed with time-released phytonutrients, supplying hydrating and repairing vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and natural anti-inflammatories. The CHARLíS Neutral-Tinted Face Moisturizer contains iron oxides that can directly shield the face and neck from UV light. Both the CHARLíS Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer and the CHARLíS SPF25 Neutral-Tinted Face Moisturizer are available as part of the CHARLíS Face Collection.  

Tech Neck

“Tech Neck” is another consequence of our high-tech world. It is a term that describes the discomfort and downright pain that can happen when a person tilts their head downward when viewing a screen. We’ve all seen those crowds of people craning their necks downwards to look at their phones while standing in line or even walking down the street (and let’s admit it, most of us have been guilty of this too). But “tech neck” can also happen when sitting in a chair working at a monitor or laptop. The head itself weighs an average of about 7 pounds. A mere 15-degree tilt can triple the force, making the body feel like it has to hold up a 30-pound bowling ball! (6)

All of this neck strain day after day can affect the state of your skin too. Tech neck can lead to long-term back and neck issues, weakening of the gut, the immune system, and our ability to absorb skin-healthy vitamins like vitamin C. More directly, tech neck can lead to “dynamic” fine line wrinkles on the neck and face, i.e., wrinkles resulting from stretched-out skin and repeated muscle movement.

To avoid all the consequences of tech neck, be sure to adjust your sitting position when you are at your computer so that you are leaning back and not tilting forward. You can also use a tall table or a standing desk. Take breaks often, and get up and gently stretch your neck, back, and whole body.

When looking at smaller devices like cell phones, the best remedy is to simply be aware of how much time you spend “on screen” and take measures to limit your time. Again, take breaks often, and be sure to stretch!

Fine line wrinkles caused by tech neck often come with the loss of collagen as we age. You can help your skin (including the skin around your neck) return to its youthful plumpness by following the recommendations mentioned above and by supplementing with collagen-promoting CHARLíS Restorative Anti-Aging Overnight Serum! This formula contains sodium hyaluronate, a natural substance found in your body and in minerals that help restore hydration, repair the skin post-injury, and smooth over fine lines and wrinkles that can come with aging and stress.

You CAN Have Vibrant Skin in a Tech-Filled World!

Did you know that the typical adult picks up their cell phone more than 100 times per day? The average is about 150 times! And since 2020, the number of Zoom meetings has increased exponentially, with 300 million meetings now happening each year, versus only 10 million in 2019. (7)

It’s safe to say that our screens, tablets, and cell phones aren’t going away anytime soon. But this does not mean that they must control us or our health– including the health of our skin.

Take measures to protect yourself and your skin from UV light, “tech neck,” and more by “turning it off” when you sleep and keeping your cell phone at arm’s distance as much as possible. In addition, using the natural, hydrating, revitalizing goodness of CHARLíS Luxury Face and Body formulas can add that extra amount of protection, which can take your skin from grim to glowing no matter what it is exposed to!

References:

(1) Electric & Magnetic Fields
(2) Bio-Initiative 2012 
(3) Multifocal Breast Cancer in Young Women with Prolonged Contact between Their Breasts and Their Cellular Phones
(4) The Effects of Red and Blue Lights on Circadian Variations in Cortisol, Alpha Amylase, and Melatonin
(5) Photoprotective Ability of Colored Iron Oxides in Tinted Sunscreens against Ultraviolet, Visible Light and Near-Infrared Radiation
(6) Assessment of stresses in the cervical spine caused by posture and position of the head
(7) 20 Ways 2020 Changed How We Use Technology Forever