Sun & Light Series: Part II - Artificial Lights Are Destroying Our Eyes, Skin and Health
Welcome to Part II of the Sun & Light Series. In Part I, we learned how light works, and how it interacts with our bodies functions. In Part II, we’ll be learning about artificial light and its destructive qualities on our health.
- Part I - How Light Dictates The Way Our Bodies Function
- Part II - Artificial Lights Are Destroying Our Eyes, Skin and Health
Table Of Contents
- The Evolution Of Light
- Natural Light
- Artificial Light
- We’re Bathing in Blue Light Daily
- Light Flicker
- Solutions
- Wrapping Up
The Evolution Of Light
For millions of years throughout our evolution, we only had three sources of light:
- Sun
- Moon
- Fire
These natural sources of light contained a full spectrum of light, where stressor wavelengths were balanced out with regenerative wavelengths:
- Every blue light, was balanced out with red light.
- Every UV light, was balanced out with infrared (IR) light.
Our ancestors had no need to understand about light, because all light was natural and in balanced proportions.
In ~1879, Thomas Edison first invented the incandescent light bulb. The incandescent light bulb had a natural spectrum of light with more regenerative wavelengths than stressor wavelengths (image below). However, as time went on, newer artificial light sourced were created. These newer light sources (fluorescent, CFL, LED) strayed farther away from the full light spectrum, and introduced more harmful blue light spikes (as seen in the image below)
Natural Light
When we measure sunlight, and natural sources of light such as fire, we see that the full light spectrum is delivered with plenty of regenerative wavelengths balancing out stressor wavelengths.
1. Daytime outdoors: During the daytime (especially closer to noon), there’s a slightly higher amount of blue and UV wavelengths present. Notice how ~50% of the light spectrum is regenerative red & infrared light to balance out the stressors.
2. ~20 minutes before sunset: A very high ratio of red and infrared light, almost no stressor wavelengths. Sunrise would look similar.
3. Candle at night: No stressor wavelengths. Zero blue light telling our brain it’s daytime. Primarily red and IR light.
Artificial Light
Artificial light sources have very sharp spikes in blue light, which is what’s damaging to our health. Here are the studies on the negative impacts of blue light:
- Blue light damages skin cells and accelerates aging: LINK
- Blue light at night increases risks of cancers: LINK
- Blue light destroys our eyes: LINK 1, LINK 2
- Blue light and it’s role in eye cancer: LINK
- Blue light and mental disorders: LINK 1, LINK 2, LINK 3
- Blue light exposure disrupts our bodies ability to manage blood sugar levels: LINK
- ALAN (Artificial Light At Night) is a contributing factor to the obesity pandemic: LINK
Studies on red and infrared light doing the opposite of blue light:
- Red and NIR light are protective & restorative for skin health: LINK 1, LINK 2
- Red and NIR light improves eyesight: LINK
- Red light can prevent and stop the progression of myopia: LINK 1, LINK 2
- NIR light improves eye health and treats various eye-related conditions (retinal degeneration, macular degeneration, optic nerve damage): LINK
- NIR light improves cognition in patients with dementia: LINK
- Red light significantly reduces blood glucose levels: LINK
Below are examples of light profiles for common artificial lights:
1. Light spectrum of an iPhone screen: Lots of blue and green spikes. Very little red and no infrared.
2. Computer screen: Large blue light spike, almost no red and zero infrared.
3. Inside an airport duty free shop: High spike in blue light, with very little red and almost no infrared light.
4. Inside a grocery store: High spike in blue light, with very little red and almost no infrared light.
5. Street lights at night: Very sharp blue light spike, very little red, no IR light.
We’re Bathing in Blue Light Daily
If you remember from Part I, blue light is a stressor wavelength. When we get blue light from natural sources, such as the sun, it’s delivered to us in a balanced state with sufficient regenerative wavelengths. No sharp blue light spikes. The sharp levels of blue light we receive from artificial sources are considered toxic and are extreme levels of stressor wavelengths. This study on blue light went on to say (LINK):
“Our results suggest that blue light also contributes to skin aging and carcinogenesis”
Modern life has us bathing in blue lights from every angle:
- Our lights above us at home
- In office buildings
- Shopping malls
- Street lamps
- Computers, TV’s, mobile phones, tablets, etc
What does this do to our health?
- Damages our skin and accelerates aging
- Puts us at greater risk of skin cancer (due to damaged, weakened skin)
- Destroys our eyes (myopia, increased risks of cataracts and macular degeneration)
- Puts us at higher risks of mental disorders
- Disrupts our ability to regulate blood sugar (can’t metabolise carbs well. Higher risk of diabetes)
- Disrupts our sleep (especially when exposed to blue light sources at night)
Light Flicker
Another detrimental feature of many artificial lights, is light flicker.
Turn on “Slo-Mo” or “Slow Motion” video recording on your phone. You don’t need to record, just be in that mode to see. You’ll be able to see if you’re in a high light flicker environment or not.
“This flickering light has been shown to have detrimental effects in humans and other species.”
“we suggest the impacts of flickering light on natural systems are given urgent attention.”
Not all stores have strong light flicker, you can see in the H&M store below, there’s no light flicker, besides the exit sign.
This Uniqlo store has some light flicker, but nowhere near as much as the earlier retail stores.
In this restaurant, the light flicker is medium.
In this bakery, only one source of light is flickering, while the rest of the light bulbs are fine.
Solutions
Okay, so now we understand that most artificial lights are terrible for our health:
- Light flicker being terrible for our cognitive health
- Excessive blue lights damaging our skin, eyes and more
What are the solutions?
For Indoor Lighting:
Option #1: Use full spectrum, flicker free LED light bulbs. Modern problems often require modern solutions. These light bulbs are designed to have a balanced full spectrum of light, without any sharp blue spikes → Example 1, Example 2
Option #2: Use floor lamps, Himalayan salt lamps, or candles at night
Option #3: Get regular sun exposure (especially around sunrise/sunset) or use red light therapy devices to offset any skin and eye damage accumulated throughout the day.
For TV, phones, laptops, tablets:
Option #1: Use blue light blocking glasses to protect your eyes whenever you’re using electronic devices → Daytime Glasses / Nighttime Glasses Glasses MUST be yellow tinted for daytime, and orange/red tinted for night time to be effective. Clear blue light blocking glasses are a scam → PROOF
Option #2:
- Install and setup f.lux on your computer → Download Here
- On iPhones, use the Nightshift feature → NightShift
- On Androids, use the Twilight app → Twilight
Option #3: Physical blue light blocking screen protectors → Example
Option #4: Use your devices outdoors. Sunlight provides plenty of regenerative wavelengths, balancing out the blue lights from your devices, so you don’t need blue light blocking glasses or software while outside.
Option #5: Use a red light therapy device along with electronic device usage. The regenerative wavelengths will balance out the harsh blue light from your devices. (make sure it’s flicker-free, and low EMF)
For Everywhere Else (Shopping Malls, Restaurants, etc):
If you want to be extra careful, wear long sleeve clothing and hats, and wear blue light blockers to block out the excessive blue lights. If it feels too weird/inappropriate, just ensure you’re getting regenerative wavelengths (sunrise/sunset/red light therapy) regularly to reverse any damage and you’ll be fine.
Wrapping Up
In Part II we learned about how our modern artificial light environments are constantly damaging our skin, eyes and more. We also learned about the ways we can mitigate these harms. In Part III, we’ll dive into the juiciest part about light → the SUN ☀️! We’ll be learning how to build healthy, resilient skin (just like our ancestors), that doesn’t burn, even without sunscreen. There’s a process to it, and careless use of the sun WILL lead to sunburns (increasing the risk of skin cancer). The sun is one of the most misunderstood aspects of health today. Most people nowadays believe the sun is bad for us, the very thing responsible for all food and life on earth. I hope by now you’ve grasped that it’s not the sun that’s the enemy, it’s our indoor lifestyles creating damaged, weak skin. Weak skin = a weak organism that can’t participate in nature. Stay tuned! Part III coming soon.
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