Put two 45-year-old Caucasian commuters side by side and compare their faces, hands, arms and upper bodies (and even hair). How can you tell at a glance which one is American and which one is Australian? Easy. The American is going to look older on the left side of her face while the Australian appears more weathered on her right. And it all comes down to UV exposure in the car.
The car is a funny place. In it, we tend to feel we’re protected, when in fact we’re more exposed than we think. A recent article in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology confirms that more skin cancers occur on the driver’s side of the body. Make sure you are properly covered to take on the heat.
Equipping your car
The standard laminated safety glass in front windshields absorbs the majority of UVB rays and only a little of UVA radiation. The PVB bonding layer may absorb more of both. This is fine for as far as it goes but remember this is standard only for the front. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, automobiles’ side windows let in about 63% of the sun’s UVA radiation. Plus, rear windows are generally unprotected altogether and there are no standards for sunroofs either.
Therefore, I urge everyone – but particularly those who have children – to invest in UV coating for all car windows and glass sunroofs. This is a transparent film that can block out 100% of UVB and UVA rays, and is equivalent to SPF 50. If it’s a new car, the dealer can do it; if it’s an older one, a tinting specialist is where to go.
Equipping yourself
Applying full spectrum sunscreen to yourself and your kids before you get into the car is a healthy habit, as is keeping a bottle of SPF 30+ in the car at all times. This goes for both summer and winter, by the way. Since sunscreen formulas can degrade over time once opened, replace the tube with a new one every six months or so.
Keep in mind the above UV protective stats only apply when the car windows are closed. Roll them down and drive with your arm exposed (full disclosure: I love doing this myself) to the elements and all bets are off. I’m not going to sit and tell you to wear an anorak all summer but a little sun protection can go a long way. Reapply your sunblock regularly – particularly before drives that are 30 minutes or longer.
Unwanted UV happens but it doesn’t have to show – on either side – of your skin.
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