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There’s no doubt about it, blue light has got itself a seriously bad rap over the last few years. You’ve probably heard whispers of its terrible potential effects; headaches, eye strain, fatigue. You might also be aware that it’s somehow emitted by your smartphone, computer and tablet. Yet, like many folk, you may not fully understand what exactly blue light is, its potential harmful effects, and indeed - the benefits it also has for the human body.
In short, blue light is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum, meaning it’s one of the colours that combine together to form the sun’s white light. Unlike some of the other colours, blue light travels in short waves, meaning it emits high levels of energy. We humans are affected by it via two parts of our bodies; skin and eyes. And though over-exposure to artificial blue light via our digital devices may cause things like headaches and insomnia, we benefit in lots of ways from the sun’s natural version. Here’s just a few ways blue light is your friend…
Like animals, plants and fungi, humans have an internal body clock, known as our circadian rhythm. It’s around 24 hours long, and links us to the cyclical rise and setting of the sun. During the day, we’re alert and full of beans thanks to the sun’s blue light (more on that later), and then, as darkness sets in and blue light bows out, we find ourselves getting naturally sleepy. Sensing the fading light, our eyes let our brain know it’s time to put the PJs on, and in turn, our body releases a sleep hormone called melatonin. It stays in our system all night, ensuring we get deep, quality rest. Then, boom - the sun rises again, hits us with some more blue light, and (after hitting snooze a couple of times), we wake up ready to face the day.
As mentioned above, the sun’s blue light helps to keep us alert and focused during the day. In fact, it looks like it even trumps your beloved latte. A 2013 study carried out a comparison of blue light and caffeine effects on cognitive function and alertness in humans. Researchers gave their 21 test subjects a computer-based test, before and after either blue light exposure, a hit of coffee, or both. And while they found that “both the caffeine only and blue light only conditions enhanced accuracy in a visual reaction test requiring a decision”, they also noted that “in a test of executive function, where a distraction was included, caffeine exerted a negative effect on accuracy.” Furthermore, “the blue light only condition consistently outperformed caffeine when distractions were presented.” Don’t worry, we’re not for a second suggesting you ditch your morning brew, but bear in mind it’s no substitute for a healthy circadian rhythm!
As well as keeping us focused, blue light has also been shown to enhance our mood. You may have heard of - or even suffered from - a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Common in countries which experience long, dark, dreary winters, users start to feel morose, lethargic and irritable at the end of autumn, due to a lack of natural sunlight. There are lamps available to treat the condition - they emit lots of blue light, aiming to mimic sunshine’s effect on our bodies. Such treatment has proven to be hugely effective, in fact, one landmark study found it as beneficial as prozac.
Finally, blue LED light treatment (under controlled conditions) has been shown to improve a host of skin conditions. For acne sufferers, it kills certain bacteria on the skin that can block pores forming spots. It can help tackle itchy psoriasis meanwhile by slowing down the production of skin cells and reducing inflammation.
So as you can see, blue light ain’t all bad. Exposure to it in its natural form during the day helps us stay awake and alert, while also ensuring we get adequate, quality sleep at night. It’s only when we overdo the artificial version that we might run into problems. If you think you may be feeling its more negative effects, blue light eliminating glasses are a great, budget-friendly option. Browse our wide range of frames here.
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