You’ve probably heard that blue light isn’t good for people, but did you know that it’s linked to early puberty?
A study shows that blue light coming from screens can cause early puberty in both girls and boys.
If you don’t know what blue light is, according to Healthline, blue light usually comes from the sun.
However, it is also emitted through digital screens and LED lights.
The Relation Between Blue Light and Early Puberty
A recent study from the University of Genoa reported an increase of advanced puberty in girls during the pandemic.
While another new study shows that the blue light emitted from screens could also be linked to early puberty.
How the researchers found this was through a study using three sets of six male rats.
The first six were exposed to a normal cycle of the day.
The other set was exposed to six hours of blue light while the other group was exposed to 12 hours of the light.
From the study, it shows that the first signs of puberty occur earlier in the male rats that were exposed to blue light.
The longer they were exposed to the light, the earlier their puberty started.
From this, the scientists believed that the amount of screen time children are exposed to could also play a role in early puberty.
The researchers did note that it might not be the case as the study subjects were rats and not children.
Complications of Early Puberty
According to Mayo Clinic, those that have early puberty could possibly encounter these complications:
1. Short Height
Those that had their puberty early might grow quickly at first and be taller than others.
However, this would cause their bones to mature too soon often causing these kids to stop growing earlier than usual.
2. Social and Emotional Problems
Children that have an early puberty might be upset about their body changes.
For example, girls dealing with early periods can cause distress.
This might also affect self-esteem and raise the risk of depression.
Dangers of Blue Light
According to Harvard Health, other than possibly having an early puberty, those that are exposed to blue light can develop these issues:
1. Sleep Issues
As most probably know, screen time is often linked with poor sleep.
The blue light messes with your circadian rhythm or sleep cycle.
It signals your brain to wake up when it should be winding down.
2. Cancer
Exposure to blue light might raise risk for certain cancers.
3. Affecting Kids Poorly
Children’s eyes don’t filter out blue light as well as adults do.
Too much exposure might raise the risks of them developing obesity, near-sightedness and attention focusing issues.
What You Can Do
What you can do to prevent damage from blue light is to limit their daily screen time.
However, this might work better if you also model that by limiting your own screen time.
With that, you can spend more time with them and decrease the chance for you or your kids to develop complications from blue light.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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