There are three types of damaging sun rays: UVA, UVB, and blue light. UVB has a shorter wavelength and is responsible for surface damage of the skin, causing immediate signs of skin damage and sunburns. The plus side is that most windows nowadays filter UVB rays out.
However, UVA has a longer wavelength and can penetrate through glass. So even if you’re staying indoors and working from home, you’re still exposing your skin to UVA rays, especially if you’re working near a window or in a room with natural light. UVA rays also penetrate past the epidermis, the surface layer of your skin, and can degrade your collagen levels, cause wrinkles and ageing signs, and put you at risk for skin cancer.
Blue light comes from the sun, and due to the nature of its short wavelength and high energy levels, it has the ability to penetrate past the dermis, deeper than UVA and UVB rays. A study done by the Journal of Investigative Dermatology in 2010 showed that exposure to blue light produces pigmentation and redness in the skin. Blue light is also emitted by smartphones, computers, and fluorescent light–devices that we are exposed to on a regular basis. But it’s important to note that most studies measuring the effects of blue light were tested on bright white screens, which is an inflated indication of normal use. So for most people, blue light from screens is not worth worrying about unless you’re undergoing a medical treatment that makes you extremely sensitive to visible light.
The effects of UVA, UVB, and blue light exposure are lasting on the skin and the most effective way to combat this is to wear sunscreen daily, and more specifically at this time, wear sunscreen indoors.
