Review
Blue Light Protective Cosmetics: Demand of the Digital Era
Author (s): Pritipadma Panda1, Sangeeta Mohanty2*, Abhisek Pal3, Sandeep Mukkamala1
- Esthetic Insights, Cosmetics R&D division, Hyderabad, India.
- School of pharmaceutical Sciences, Siksha O Anusandhan deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
- GITAM School of Pharmacy, GITAM (Deemed to be) University, Hyderabad, India.
Abstract:
| Blue lights are practically a high energy visible light (HEV) emitted from screens of digital devices and having the wavelength about 390 to 500 nm. These lights have higher penetration potential in to the skin layers as compare to ultraviolet lights and causes damage to the topical surfaces inducing oxidative stress via reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) which are responsible to protein and lipid damage. The exposure and harmful effect of blue lights can be avoided or reduced by using various cosmetics and ingredients like antioxidants, blue light absorbers which assist in combating the free radical production in skin. Some of the cosmetic products like skin creams, gels, mists, sprays, lotions, and ointments can be found efficient in preventing or reducing the production of free reactive oxygen species in skin. Inorganic materials like titanium dioxide, zinc, cerium oxide are used but due to their certain drawbacks associated with refractive index, photolytic activity the need for newer type of excipient is generated. Cerium oxide, organic absorbent acts as shield against blue radiations, when dispersed in water it becomes transparent to skin as an aqueous material. Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) which are approved to be used by US FDA. Chemically they are metal oxide particles which have proven efficiency in absorbing, reflecting and refracting UV as well as blue light. With the introduction of an anti-blue light mist by Garancia in 2016, the production of this new wave of cosmetic products was initiated. UV Transparent Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 by Elta MD, Super serum tint SPF 40 was developed by ILIA, Murad Pomphenol Sunguard Dietary Supplement, Blue light protection hyaluronic serum was developed by Olivia are some of the marketed products to protect the blue light and its harmful effect. There is still ample opportunity in the field of blue light protection approaches in cosmetic filed with novel approaches. |
Keywords: Blue light, oxidative stress, zinc oxide, cosmetics, ultra violet rays, titanium dioxide