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Do Selfies Cause Wrinkles? Dermatologists Weigh In

Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian Kim Kardashian/Instagram

First there was Blackberry thumb, then shoulder crunch and tech neck. Now there’s growing concern that has us thinking twice about using our cellphones. The latest worry began with a Daily Mail article about one selfie-obsessed blogger, who takes 50 photos of herself a day. After noticing pigmentation and changes in her complexion, her cosmetic dermatologist told her the blue light (or high-energy light emitted from electronics such as phones, laptops and tablets) from her cellphone was causing premature aging. 

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Since then, the idea that your tech may lead to wrinkles has appeared on sites including Vogue and Allure. In a story on The Telegraph, one derm called out differences he’s seen in his patients’ skin (albeit in a general way). “Those who take a lot of selfies and bloggers should worry. Even the blue light we get from our screens can damage our skin,” Simon Zoakei, medical director of the Linia Skin Clinic in London, told The Telegraph. “I know there are people who take lots of selfies and bloggers who come to me, and I have seen that there is damage there and aging taking place.” 

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Before you swear off selfies, Us Weekly asked top dermatologists for the truth about whether cellphones could affect complexion and lead to wrinkles. The verdict: All agreed that the science is just not there. “To date, no consistent evidence indicates that the use of cellphones ages the skin,” Simon Ourian, cosmetic dermatologist at Epione in Beverly Hills, tells Us. There have been studies showing a correlation between the radio-frequency energy emitted by cellphones and aging skin, but “they have been difficult to replicate,” says Ourian. 

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But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t proceed with caution. HEV light has been found to disrupt sleep cycles, hence the popular advice to unplug an hour or so before you hit the sack. Otherwise your skin (and mood) may suffer. “Lack of restful sleep can increase cortisol levels [or stress-hormone levels], which ages the skin,” Whitney Bowe, cosmetic dermatologist and member of the Dr. Brandt Skincare Advisory Board, tells Us. 

During the day, pay attention to whether you’re having a tough time reading emails and messages. “Cellphone screens have a tiny font size and many need to squint to read it, exacerbating crow’s-feet and other fine lines,” Jessica Weiser, dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group, says. If you find yourself scrunching your eyes, increase the text size. (On iOS, head to Settings, then Accessibility. On Android, head to Settings, then Display.)

If wrinkles are still worrying you, reach for an antioxidant serum and apply it on a daily basis. Bowe suggests Dr. Brandt Skincare’s Needles No More, which blends peptides and minerals to improve the look of expression lines. And, of course, lather on sunscreen to protect skin against UVA and UVB rays. 

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