It's no secret that suncream helps to prevent the sun's rays from damaging our skin, but how many of us actually take notice?
And, how many really wear sunscreen as part of their day-to-day skin care routine? Maybe you should start to consider it as we're subjected to UV rays all year round, regardless of whether it's sunny out or not.
A shocking image of a truck driver has resurfaced, showing the true cost of not wearing SPF and what the harmful UVA rays can do to your face.
One look at this image is enough to encourage you to think twice about skipping the lotion before heading out on a bright day.
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First published in the New England Journal of Medicine, this photo of the 69-year-old trucker shows just how much more aged one side of his face is compared to the other.
The trucker has had his left side exposed to UVA rays transmitted through his window for 28 years which has left it looking significantly older and more wrinkled.
Upon proper examination, the left side of his face showed signs of 'Favre-Racouchot syndrome' common in photodamaged skin.
The unusual image shows what it could have looked like if he had worn suncream, due to the other side of his face being relatively unharmed as it wasn't subject to anywhere near the amount of UVA rays.
The chronic exposure due to being on the roads for days at a time resulted in the deterioration of the skin's elastic fibres. The break down of these fibres is responsible for the deep wrinkles and further ages appearance.
This has resulted in a process called 'unilateral dermatoheliosis' which caused the man's skin to thicken.
As well as causing aging, this type of exposure can also carry skin cancer risks as DNA is broken down and there's direct toxicity to the skin.
The trucker has since been advised by a doctor to use topical retinoids and suncream. It's also recommended that he gets checked regularly for signs of skin cancer to be on the safe side.
Though sunscreen can help prevent sun damage, it's near impossible to avoid UVA rays as they account for 'up to 95 percent of the UV radiation' that touches the Earth's surface, according to Skincancer.org.
Adding SPF to your daily skincare routine won't only help keep your skin soft and supple but it will also help to keep skin damage at bay.
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Harley Young