Many people believe that the modern-day skincare trends are a scam made by the big pharma companies who wish to make more money. This is a recent trend of ‘Anti-Aging’ skincare that keeps yourself on toes for the innate need for women to stay ‘young’ if they wish to be desirable. The beauty industry, in a way, feeds on such societal-made insecurities. But the recent rise in the trend has taken a different turn. While before people did it before to look prettier or fairer, now people are looking at this skincare routine as a way of taking care of themselves rather than doing to match someone else's beauty standards. This is why, this trend has resurfaced in the skin care community. This is the blue light routine.

In today's digital age, where we spend countless hours looking at screens, from phones and tablets to laptops. This constant screen time exposes us to blue light, which research suggests can have negative effects on our skin. It also leads to premature aging and dark spots. The screens also leads to stress, which could further cause harm to skin. While ditching our devices isn't realistic, a growing number of skincare products claim to protect against blue light. But do these products actually work?

What is Blue Light Skincare?

You can find many skincare products that say they protect against blue light, like sprays, creams, gels, and sunscreens. Some promise to undo the damage blue light might cause, while others try to prevent it in the first place. Blue light sunscreens are special because they protect against both the sun's UV rays and blue light. This is what regular sunscreens don't do very well. Regular sunscreens, whether they use chemicals or minerals, don't block blue light as effectively.

However, tinted sunscreens are different. Tinted sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher can protect your skin from blue light, as well as UVA and UVB rays from the sun. This is because of the coloring in the tint. Some newer sunscreens also have special ingredients that help protect against visible light, including blue light. While scientists are still learning about how blue light affects skin, many skin doctors have found it to be helpful for skin.

What is Blue Light and Why Might It Be a Problem?

Blue light comes from screens, TVs, and even the sun. While we used to worry mostly about how it affects our eyes and sleep, now we're learning it might also affect our skin. Some studies show that too much blue light can damage skin cells and speed up aging, leading to wrinkles and uneven skin tone. It can also cause dark spots on the skin. This happens because blue light can cause something called "oxidative stress" in the skin, which is linked to aging. It leads to dead skin cells. Blue light goes deeper into the skin than the sun's UV rays and can make skin cells produce more pigment, causing dark spots. It's important to know that not all blue light is bad. There is a difference between the blue light that comes out of the screens and the blue light that is used from a certain blue light wavelength as a therapy. The latter is used by doctors to treat acne and some skin cancers.

Millions of Indians are increasingly turning to mental health apps to manage stress, anxiety, loneliness, and other emotional challenges. These digital platforms offer a range of services, from mood tracking and mindfulness exercises to AI-powered chatbots designed to provide conversational support that can feel similar to therapy.

The growing adoption of such apps comes amid a significant shortage of mental health professionals in India. Data from the National Mental Health Survey indicate that nearly one in ten Indian adults lives with a diagnosable mental health disorder, while more than 85 percent of people with depression do not receive adequate treatment. Other studies have also highlighted a large gap between the demand for mental healthcare services and the availability of trained psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors, particularly in rural and underserved regions.

Against this backdrop, mental health apps position themselves as a convenient and relatively affordable way to access support anytime and from anywhere. However, researchers and mental health experts caution that the rapid rise of these platforms has also sparked concerns about data privacy, the clinical effectiveness of digital interventions, and the level of oversight and accountability surrounding AI-driven mental health tools. While some studies suggest that digital mental health programs can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, experts emphasize that they should complement—not replace—professional care, especially for individuals with moderate to severe mental health conditions.

Also Read: India's Maternal Mortality Ratio Drops From 130 To 87 In Last 10 Years: Govt

How Mental Disorders Are Impacting Life Worldwide?

Mental disorders are on the rise worldwide, and nearly 1.2 billion lives are now affected by them. A recent study published in The Lancet has revealed this very crucial trend. The study was conducted by researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) in collaboration with the University of Queensland.

This study shows that the number of people affected by the mental disorder has almost doubled since 1990. It also emphasizes the role of mental disorder in the case of disability, as the research suggests that it has crossed cardiovascular disease, cancer, and musculoskeletal conditions, leading to disability. Notably, the study has revealed that mental disorders affect people of different sexes and ages disproportionately.

The research was done on a massive scale from 1990 to 2023. The researchers studied the impact of mental disorder on both sexes, in 25 age groups, 21 regions, and 204 countries and territories.

Over the years, mental disorders have caused more and more mayhem in people's lives. Disability adjusted life years (DALYs) show the very impact of mental disorders on life. DALYs measure the health loss. It calculates the years lived with disability and years of life lost due to premature death.

According to this very measuring system, we can see that the mental disorder and its impact on overall life reached another zenith in 2023. That year, mental disorders alone caused 171 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs). This made mental disorder the fifth biggest contributor to total disease burden. Notably, in 2023, mental disorders had a 17 percent share of total life lost due to disability throughout the world.

Currently, there is a spike in cases of women being diagnosed with clotting factor deficiency, a condition where the blood does not clot properly. Many women aren’t aware of this and tend to dismiss it as routine menstrual concerns. While not always widely discussed, this condition can lead to serious health risks if not identified early. Hence, women should be more attentive and consult the doctor when they notice unusual bleeding patterns and improve their overall well-being.

What is Von Willebrand Disease?

One of the most common yet underdiagnosed conditions in women is von Willebrand disease. So, it is a genetic disorder that affects the blood’s ability to clot. Some women present as carriers of hemophilia or develop clotting issues due to liver disease, infections, hormonal imbalance, or nutritional deficiencies such as low vitamin K. Hence, women should pay utmost attention to their health.

What are the symptoms of VWD?

VWD is a common inherited bleeding disorder, and it occurs when there is a dysfunctional blood protein that does not let platelets clump together to form clots. Because it adversely affects the blood's ability to clot, it causes mucosal bleeding. In mild cases, the symptoms may not be there, but in other cases, the symptoms are the following:

1. Prolonged and frequent nosebleeds
2. Excessive bleeding after minor cuts
3. Easy bruising
4. Large and lumpy bruises
5. Spontaneous bleeding in the joints

What are the types of VWD?

VWD is classified in three categories based on the nature and severity of the defect:

1. Type 1: Mildest form with mild bleeding symptoms
2. Type 2: Mild to moderate bleeding
3. Type 3: Rare and severe, leading to serious bleeding problems

VWD is largely genetic, and the most extreme form—type 3—occurs when a faulty gene is inherited from both parents. For treatment, doctors recommend hormonal therapy like IUDs or birth control pills to manage heavy period bleeding.

“Clotting factor deficiency is seen when the body lacks certain proteins needed to stop bleeding. In women, this may be a genetic condition, such as hemophilia carriers or other inherited bleeding disorders. They can experience clotting factor deficiency because of liver problems, infections, hormonal imbalances, or nutritional deficiencies like low vitamin K levels. Women avoid the symptoms like bleeding gums, heavy period bleeding, and other issues, assuming that the symptoms with get better. However, prolonged bleeding is also reported by women, especially after gynaecological procedures like childbirth," Dr. Padma Srivastava, Senior Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Lullanagar, Pune, said in an interview with Health and Me.

Dr. Padma further added, “Around 2–3 women aged 50-60 are reporting every week. However, delayed recognition remains a major challenge, as many women tend to ignore symptoms or delay seeking medical advice. Management of this condition involves clotting factor replacement therapy, medications to control bleeding, and regular monitoring. With proper care, most women can lead healthy and active lives.”

Changing lifestyles, career priorities, financial planning, and personal choices are leading many couples to marry later than before. While late marriages are becoming increasingly common, fertility specialists are observing a parallel rise in delayed pregnancy planning and age-related fertility complications. Many couples now begin trying to conceive only after the age of 35, when fertility in both men and women naturally starts declining.

Currently, there is a growing trend of late marriages due to career priorities, financial stability goals, higher education, and changing lifestyle choices. Many couples are choosing to settle professionally and personally before planning a family. However, this delay can also lead to postponed pregnancy planning, often at a stage when fertility naturally starts declining. Increasing stress, underlying medical conditions, and lack of fertility awareness are further contributing to challenges in conception among couples in their mid to late thirties.

What are the complications that can occur in a pregnancy after turning 35?

“The increasing trend of late marriages (30–35+) is directly leading to delayed pregnancy planning. Most couples start trying to conceive after 35, when fertility has already begun to decline significantly. By the time many patients seek medical help between 36 and 39 years, several are diagnosed with low ovarian reserve (low AMH) or conditions such as oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) and azoospermia.

Lack of early fertility awareness often causes women to miss the window for timely intervention or fertility preservation options like egg freezing. Advanced maternal age pregnancies (40+) are steadily rising and are often associated with complex complications and lower treatment success rates. Currently, nearly 75% of fertility patients are above 35 years of age, while 25% are above 40. Only around 20% of patients are in their late 20s,” said Dr. Jyotshana Palgamkar, Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Virar.

Dr Jyotshna further added, “One of the biggest concerns linked to late pregnancy planning is reduced ovarian reserve in women. By the time many women seek medical help between the ages of 36 and 39, their anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, which indicate egg reserve, may already be low. This reduces the chances of natural conception and can also affect the success rates of fertility treatments. Male fertility is also being affected. A large number of men are diagnosed with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), a condition in which sperm count, motility, and morphology are affected.

Consequences of delayed fertility evaluation

Delayed fertility evaluation often means that couples lose valuable time before beginning treatment or considering assisted reproductive options. Another major challenge is the lack of awareness about fertility preservation. Many women remain unaware that egg freezing at a younger age may help preserve fertility for the future. By the time they start exploring fertility options in their late thirties or forties, treatment becomes more complex and emotionally stressful. Advanced maternal age pregnancies, especially above 40, are also increasing. These pregnancies are often associated with lower conception rates, higher miscarriage risk, pregnancy complications, and reduced IVF success rates,” Dr Jyotshna explained.

Male fertility treatment options depend on the underlying cause of infertility and may include lifestyle changes, medications, hormonal therapy, or surgical procedures. “Conditions such as low sperm count, poor sperm motility, abnormal morphology, raised DNA fragmentation index (DFI) affecting sperm quality, varicocele, or azoospermia can often be managed with timely medical intervention. Assisted reproductive techniques like IUI, IVF, and ICSI are also commonly used to improve the chances of conception. Early diagnosis and proper fertility evaluation play an important role in selecting the most effective treatment option for men,” said Dr Palgamkar.

Understanding fertility timelines, seeking timely evaluation, and discussing preservation options early can help couples make informed decisions and improve their chances of successful parenthood in the future.