PAPERmaking! g FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TECHNOLOGY Volume 4, Number 1, 2018
SUMMER DRIVING PUTS UK MOTORISTS AT INCREASED RISK OF SKIN DAMAGE ON RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY • TEST REVEALS HOW LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO THE SUN WHILE DRIVING CAN LEAD TO WRINKLES, LEATHERING, SAGGING, BROWN “AGE” SPOTS AND EVEN SKIN CANCERS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY … EVEN WHEN WINDOWS ARE CLOSED • MORE THAN A QUARTER OF MOTORISTS (26%) ADMIT SUFFERING SUNBURN IN THE CAR WITH ALMOST ONE IN SEVEN (13%) ADMITTING TO ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOWS TO CATCH A TAN [1] • OVER HALF (53%) OF MOTORISTS ARE UNAWARE THAT THEIR SKIN CAN GET SUN DAMAGED WHILE INSIDE THE CAR - EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED Motor savings experts confused.com and leading skin cancer charity Melanoma UK have teamed up to raise awareness of skin damage to the right side of the body while driving in the sunshine – even if you aren’t lucky enough to own a convertible! The message to cover up could not be more critical this summer as new research reveals over a quarter (26%) of UK motorists have suffered from sunburn while on the road, with 13% saying they have deliberately rolled down the car window to catch a tan. [1] One in seven (14%) drivers has even stuck their arm (or another body part) out of the car window in order to achieve a better tan, with almost a third (29%) of those sun worshippers having had an accident or near miss as a result. Worryingly, a whopping four in five (81%) UK drivers say they have never been concerned about skin damage whilst travelling in a car on a sunny day, whilst over half (53%) are entirely unaware that this can occur even when the car windows are closed. According to leading dermatologist Dr Christian Aldridge, a representative from Melanoma UK, glass – like clouds - does not protect you from UV radiation. These damaging sun rays can still pass through windows putting motorists at risk of asymmetrical sun damage as a result. Glass effectively blocks UVB, and windshields are specially treated to block UVA as well, but a car’s side and rear windows allow UVA to penetrate. [2] For years, dermatologists have observed that patients in the US often have more sun damage on the left side of their faces than on the right, which can lead to wrinkles, leathering, sagging, brown age spots and even skin cancers. [3] One study showed the side of the body next to the window received up to six times the dose of UV radiation compared to the shaded side. [4] While we aren’t as fortunate as our American cousins when it comes to our yearly supply of sunshine, British drivers do need to be aware of the dangers of sunburn when driving in the height of summer or during a heatwave. One in seven drivers (14%) don’t apply sun cream whether inside or outside of the car even if the weather is nice. Therefore, Confused.com turned to Melanoma UK to test the skin of British drivers – comparing the right side of their face, shoulders and arms to the left which is shaded when driving.
Article 12 – Driving & Sunburn
Page 2 of 3
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator