Your Tech Might Be Responsible for Your Skin Woes
There are definitely ways that tech adds major positives to our lives. If you’re not excited about new apps or the ability to request your faves on Netflix, you at least probably use Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. There are also, as with most things in the universe, things that are not so great about tech. And we don’t just mean when things go wildly wrong (like exploding headphones). It can also be bad for your health.
Dr. Howard Murad MD, FAAD (yes, thatMurad) told Coveteur, “Consider, for example, that four days in front of a computer screen is the equivalent to 20 minutes in the midday sun on your skin. Or that stress can cause inflammation and cellular water loss, the final common pathway of aging. The way we live our life, through technology, directly affects our skin and overall wellbeing… Today, we are more digitally connected than ever before. The hallmarks of Cultural Stress include digital dependency, the inability to disconnect from work, and lowered self-esteem due to increased social expectations.”
He goes on to say that digital-only relationships are dangerous, and that we should focus on real human connections: “By connecting with one another in more meaningful ways, we will see positive effects on our skin, health and ultimately happiness.”
Dr. Murad’s warning has become more and more relevant as ownership of smartphones, tablets, and laptops continues to rise. The general cure for tech health woes? Moderation. Refraining from using your phone and other devices can cut down on troublesome acne (clean those devices, seriously), help you sleep better by eliminating disruptive blue light, and slow down visible aging and “tech neck” (neck wrinkles from hunching over your phone all the time).
Besides, people are so much more fun face-to-face. Get outside, hang with your pals, de-stress, and enjoy some sunshine. Just make sure to slather on sunscreen — electronics aren’t the only things that can damage your skin.
What do you do to protect yourself from your tech? Tell us @BritandCo!
(h/t Coveteur; photos via Getty)