Could selfies give you wrinkles?

Step away from your phone, Selena Gomez, those selfies may be doing you more harm than good. Photo / Getty

It's bad news for selfie fans, as experts say too many snaps can expose the face to electromagnetic radiation and promote wrinkles.

It may sound like hogwash, but dermatologists say they can even tell which hand the person prefers to hold their phone in, according to the skin damage on their face.

In an article in the Daily Mail, experts said along with electromagnetic radiation, the blue light emitted from smartphone screens can be a factor in developing wrinkles, and has a similar effect on the skin as sun exposure.

If selfies give you wrinkles, then Kim Kardashian may be in trouble. Photo / Getty

London dermatologist, Dr Simon Zokaie, told the Daily Mail that he has seen a rise in clients who regularly use electronic gadgets coming to him for skincare advice.

"I think there is a gap in the market for products which protect because I know there are people who take lots of selfies, and bloggers who come to me and I have seen that there is damage there and there ageing taking place."

A Californian skincare expert, Dr Zein Obagi, agrees. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, he said could often see skin degradation to one side of the face, depending on which hand a person used to take selfies.

"You start to see dull dirty looking texture that you cannot identify on one side of the face. This magnetic field is altering the minerals in the skin," he told The Telegraph. "A sunscreen will not protect you. But if you saturate your skin with anti-oxidants it can help prevent DNA damage from electronic devices."

According to the Daily Mail, electromagnetic radiation is thought to cause breaks in the skin's DNA, which can prevent the skin from repairing itself correctly and damage skin cells.

Both experts agreed that over-the-counter moisturisers wouldn't protect the skin, although keeping hydrated by drinking water could help to keep wrinkles at bay.

Then there is also the option of putting your phone down for a while.

-nzherald.co.nz