9-To-5 Effect: How Work Stress And Office Environments Are Damaging Your Skin – News18
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Exposure to blue light and recycled air from air conditioners weakens the skin’s natural barrier, making it more prone to irritation and even flare-ups of existing skin conditions.
Blue light from screens accelerates skin ageing.
If your skin has been looking dull, breaking out more often, or showing signs of early ageing, and you can’t figure out why, the answer might be sitting right in front of you. While we often associate skin damage with sun exposure or pollution outside, few of us consider how much harm our office environments and work routines are doing to our skin. The truth is, the daily 9-to-5 grind could be taking a silent toll, and the signs are showing.
Work Stress & Office Environment
For many working professionals, the day begins with screen time and ends the same way. Extended hours in front of digital devices expose skin to high-energy visible light, commonly known as blue light. It penetrates deeper into the skin than UV rays, affecting its natural repair cycle, triggering pigmentation, and accelerating the ageing process.
What’s even more concerning is that this type of light-related skin damage often flies under the radar, and it’s not just about screens. Most office environments are enclosed and heavily climate-controlled. Constant exposure to recycled air from air conditioners can dehydrate the skin and weaken its moisture barrier. Over time, this results in dryness, flakiness, and increased sensitivity.
Workplace stress is one of the most underestimated triggers for skin issues. When you’re under pressure, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that weakens the skin’s natural barrier, making it more prone to breakouts, redness, and even flare-ups of existing conditions like eczema.
While many are quick to reach for topical treatments or try new skincare products, the real solution lies in understanding what the skin needs in such environments. More than just cleansing and moisturising, the skin requires defence: protection from digital stress, pollutants, and inflammation.
Smart Products and High-Tech Treatments to Consider
This is where antioxidant support becomes crucial. Dr Kanupriya Sethi, MD, Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy at Heritage Hospital, Surat, Gujarat, says, “New-age skincare routine including Profhilo Haenkenium, is now being explored for its ability to protect skin against the modern-day assaults of blue light and oxidative stress. Unlike traditional antioxidants, Profhilo Haenkenium is a combination of Hyaluronic acid (HA) complex with Salvia Haenkei extract that works on multiple levels, soothing inflammation, strengthening the skin’s barrier, and even helping it bounce back from stress-induced damage. Think of it as a shield your skin didn’t know it needed.”
Dr Purva Pande, MBBS, MD (Dermatology), DNB, MNAMS, Clinical & Aesthetic Dermatologist, adds, “Innovations in non-invasive dermatology have opened up new possibilities for treating stressed, tired skin. Alma Hybrid and light-based therapies are being increasingly adopted by dermatologists for their ability to target pigmentation, dullness, and texture issues without causing trauma to the skin. These treatments combine multiple wavelengths, allowing deeper and more precise action, especially for skin that’s been worn out by modern lifestyles.”
Of course, skincare does not always have to be clinical or complex. Sometimes, small shifts in the routine like drinking more water, stepping away from screens, and applying sunscreen even indoors can help reverse early signs of damage. By understanding the hidden effects of our office environments and stress levels, we can start treating the skin more mindfully, not just with creams but with care that considers how we live and work.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
- First Published:
