This is how selfies are ruining your skin

Step away from the smartphone

Dermatologists have spoken - selfies are officially bad for you.

In what might be the most ironic beauty news of the year, it turns out your selfie habit could be ruining your looks. What we thought was just harmless (maybe slightly narcissistic) fun, is actually damaging our skin. Experts claim that exposing your face to the electromagnetic radiation from your smart phone can cause wrinkles and premature ageing. It’s similar to sun exposure, but you won't be protected by your SPF.

‘Those who take a lot of selfies and bloggers should worry,’ says Dr Simon Zoakei, Medical Director of the Harley Street Clinic. ‘Even the blue light we get from our screens can damage our skin. I think there is a gap in the market for products which protect because I know there are people who take lots of selfies. Bloggers come to me and I have seen that there is damage there and there is ageing taking place. It's a different wavelength of radiation so sunscreen will not block it.’

But selfie haters shouldn’t feel too smug - apparently our smartphones can actually contribute to a whole range of skin problems. Holding your phone to your face can even make you more prone to acne in that area, but with more germs on your iPhone than a public toilet, are you really surprised?

‘I can tell whether someone uses their right hand or left hand to hold their phone,’ says Zein Obagi, founder of the Obagi Skin Health Institute in Beverley Hills. ‘You start to see a dull, dirty looking texture that you cannot identify on one side of the face.’ Got an acne breakout from all those germs on your phone? Find a serum here to help clear it up...

Dr. Amy Perlmutter, a dermatologist with New York Dermatology Group, also advises taking small breaks between scrolling sessions, and ensuring you keep your neck in an upright position to avoid 'teck neck' (i.e. neck folds). While aesthetician Kerry Benjamin adds that you should always avoid squinting at your phone, and if you find you are doing it regularly, try increasing the size of your text to avoid potential crow's feet. (via Fashionista).

So, in the name of skincare, maybe it's time to say goodbye to selfies and hello to handsfree?

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