Man shows importance of wearing sunscreen as he shows off shocking difference between arm and legs
Amelia Jones
Featured Image Credit: TikTok / @drjoe_md
A TikTok video provides a shocking warning about the dangers of prolonged sun exposure as a man showed off the toll 70 years of working outside had on his skin.
The short video from Austin Skin Physicians in Texas, US, is less than 15 seconds but makes an impact.
The clip shows a man sitting in the clinic as the camera pans in and out on different angles of his arms resting on his legs.
Across the TikTok video it reads: "70 years of working outside but never leaving the house without pants."
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The caption reads: "A picture is worth 1000 words. #sundamage #ruralmedicine #tan #dermatologist #spf" because simply put: no comment is needed.
The skin of his arms is thinner and crepey compared to the plumper-looking skin of his legs, as the UV rays have broken down the elastin in his skin.
His arms are deep brown and damaged with seemingly significant hyperpigmentation, sun spots and sun damage, but his thighs are pale and unlined in comparison - seemingly belonging to a much younger person.
The implication is that clothing can help protect skin from UV rays when you're outside in the sun and the person is presumably being checked for potential skin cancer due to the sun damage.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation an estimated 90 percent of sun damage is caused by the sun's UV rays.
The NHS explains that actinic keratoses (also called solar keratoses) are dry scaly patches of skin that have been damaged by the sun.
The patches are not serious, but there's a chance they could become skin cancer, so it's important to avoid further damage to your skin from the sun with SPF, clothing or seeking shade.
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide with 147,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed each year.
The first sign of non-melanoma skin cancer is usually the appearance of a lump or discoloured patch on the skin that persists after a few weeks and slowly progresses over months or sometimes years.
Non-melanoma skin cancer most often develops on areas of skin that sees the most sun like the face, ears, hands, shoulders, upper chest and back.
It's recommended to see your GP if you have any skin abnormality, such as a lump, ulcer, lesion or skin discolouration that has not healed after four weeks. It's unlikely to be skin cancer, but it's best to get it checked.
The comments are united in approving the video's message.
One reads: "If you ever see people working in the hot sun wearing long sleeves and big hats covering their necks - this is why."
While another says: "Y'all need some SPF."
A third couldn't believe the difference: "Wow. Crazy to think that’s the same body."