Remote work has become the new normal amidst the pandemic. With WFH (work from home), there’s less commute and more flexibility. However, it also means a greater tendency for people to overwork and forget about taking care of their skin. This can be problematic when a skincare routine is crucial now more than ever.
With your screens emitting high-energy visible (HEV) rays or mirroring the sun on your skin, your chances of getting skin cancer, collagen degeneration, uneven pigmentation, accelerated skin aging, and inflammation may increase.
So, is there a way to prevent the skin symptoms of blue light from progressing? To answer your question, read this article and find out about 12 skincare tips when working behind a computer.
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Follow a Skincare Routine
A consistent and suitable skincare routine that involves cleansers, toners, exfoliators, serums, moisturizers, and essential oils can heal and replenish your skin. When working from home, your skin’s aging quickens because of radiation exposure. To prevent wrinkles, textured complexion, and fine lines, you will need hydration from hyaluronic acid and support for your skin barriers from niacinamide.
Additionally, the skin bumps on one side of your face – coming from the excessive rubbing of your phone to your skin when making calls – can be prevented with deep cleansers. Specifically, a cleanser based on salicylic acid can reach the ends of your pores and reduce the appearance of blemishes.
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Moisturize
If you notice the sagging skin around your throat, your automatic hunching posture, and the jowly appearance of your face, this is probably because you always look down on your computer or phone. The higher risk of your skin wrinkling and sagging makes it all the more crucial to use antioxidant-rich serums and moisturizers rich in vitamin C or retinol.
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Use eye cream
Who doesn’t squint or glare into their computer screens? Whether it’s a habit you’ve developed or because the font is too tiny, repetitive squinting leads to lines around your eyes.
Moreover, experts have proven that people blink less when using their computers. Thus, the tendency of your eyes to dry and blur is greater. This may lead to excessive eye rubbing, which can harm your lids.
Using an eye cream powered by vitamin E or B can be an effective way of repairing your eye area.
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Wear Sunscreen
Even if you don’t go outdoors, sitting around the computer all day exposes you to HEV rays from blue light. Consequently, this results in the faster breakdown of your skin’s collagen, dark spots, and pigmentation. To combat these blemishes, use sunscreen even at home, ideally every two to three hours. Purchase SPF that has physical ray blockers in contrast to chemical-based ones.
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Take Breaks
It is advisable to take short breaks between your work at regular intervals. Time away from your computer will lessen the negative ramifications of continuous radiation exposure.
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Massage Your Face
Your skin may get dull and stressed from work. Stress triggers inflammation, breakouts, allergies, and rosacea. An excellent way to rejuvenate your face and strengthen your skin cells’ immune response to stress is by massaging it. A facial massage improves blood circulation, relaxes your skin, and removes toxins by delivering vital nutrients to your face’s bloodstream.
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Exercise
Speaking of improved blood circulation, exercise strengthens your heart and effectively distributes oxygen to your cells. Being active nourishes even the skin’s cells, promoting cellular replacement and repair. Overall, an effective exercise (approximately 30 minutes and heavy in aerobics) can help prevent and reverse the signs of aging.
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Drink Plenty of Water
Water is a holy grail among fitness and beauty bloggers. Its benefits and essence are evident, making you feel fresh, radiant, and moisturized. H20 also gets rid of toxins, improving your complexion and skin elasticity. The recommended water intake is two to three liters per day.
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Keep Night Mode On
If your gadget has a night mode or blue-light filter, keeping it on can reduce your skin’s exposure to harmful rays. While it may take some time to adjust, it can protect your skin and eyes in the long term.
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Eat Healthily
A diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, green tea, colorful natural ingredients, and antioxidant-rich foods can detoxify your body and guard your skin against free radicals in the long term. On the other hand, dairy products could exacerbate your acne and inflammation by 30%, while junk food, fats, and carbs could trigger blackheads.
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Relax
Stress can negatively impact your health, leaving you with wrinkles and lines. The contraction of your muscles may also contribute to the progression of skin aging. To revive a tired complexion, meditation, regular exercise, pampering yourself, or doing your favorite hobby could help.
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Sleep
Overworking has become common because of the lack of personal and work boundaries. WFH has led to plenty of all-nighters for students and workers alike. The HEV rays from blue light may further worsen the situation, producing melatonin that can disrupt your body clock. As a result, you feel less tired when, in reality, your body needs to heal.
Lack of sleep may eventually make your eyes puffy and dark underneath, develop dryness, make aging lines more visible, and increase your body’s sensitivity. To promote sleep in your lifestyle, practice a work-life balance and try refraining from using your gadgets before bedtime.
You can also visit Totality Skin to learn more about skincare tips.
Wrapping Up
While working from home, it’s easy to lose track of time and work even after office hours. Thus, it is all the more essential to keep your body and skin healthy by using products that help skincare and make positive lifestyle changes.
