TAKING a selfie can be as damaging to the skin as smoking, drinking and too much sunshine, a Rossett dermatologist has warned.

Clinician Sara Cheeney, owner of Pure Perection Clinic in Rossett, said the electromagnetic rays from smart phones and tablets will speed up the ageing process, including wrinkles and brown spots.

Nurse Practitioner Sara has seen a rise in patients who admit to being regular selfie takers suffering accelerated skin cell damage.

She can even identify the hand a person uses to hold their phone by examining which side of the face is worst affected.

Chester and District Standard:

Sara Cheeney

Mrs Cheeney, a former nurse who opened her first clinic in the village 10 years ago, said: “The results are quite alarming. I get a lot of bloggers and patients who take selfies every day coming to me and complaining about the issue, and it’s an issue which seems to be getting worse.

“The blue rays from smart phone screens can do more damage than too much sunshine, so I would urge youngsters in particular to be extra careful.”

With millions of teenagers glued to Instagram, Tik Tok, Snapchat and other social media platforms the risk of pre-mature skin ageing could be common in the years ahead.

She added: “Using moisturisers and shop-bought oils and creams won’t reverse the harm that’s already been done.

“Neither will regular UV sunscreen as the radiation emitted from the phone is on a different wavelength.

“The only solutions are to rehydrate skin from within and use advanced technology and sunscreen with ingredients that protect against High Energy Visible (HEV) light and Infa Red (IR) light, such as ZO Skin Health products.”

World-renowned dermatologist Dr Zein Obagi - founder of ZO and the Obagi Skin Health Institute in Beverley Hills - agreed the selfie culture would have a long-standing and negative impact on the faces of future generations.

A mentor of Sara, he recruited the 37 year-old to become a national trainer and brand ambassador for the range, even inviting her out to the US for exclusive coaching at the Los Angeles facility.

Dr Obagi said: “Your cell phone will damage your skin.

“It’s not documented but in my clinical observation I can tell whether someone uses their right hand or left hand to hold their phone.

“You start to see dull dirty looking texture that you cannot identify on one side of the face.”

He added: “A sunscreen will not protect you, but if you saturate your skin with anti-oxidants it can help prevent DNA damage from electronic devices.”

Other health experts say the electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones is preventing skin from repairing itself, breaking the DNA strand and causing oxidative stress on cells.

Mrs Cheeney, who grew her business while fighting breast cancer and raising two young children, added: “The facts are there to be seen, and I’ve already encouraged my patients to stimulate and hydrate their skin.

“Women in particular have problems with sensitive skin and tend to be the ones who use more products.

“That’s why we I would urge them to come in and see us, even for advice, to prevent their skin cells being damaged any further.”