The American Cancer Society reports that there are more than one million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed every year in the United States. Most of these are related to sun exposure. There are also nearly 12,000 deaths arising from melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, every year. Again, sun exposure is a major risk factor.

Researchers at Saint Louis University School of Medicine now warn that exposure to the sun while driving may be a previously under-recognized risk factor in skin cancer. They note that most facial skin cancers occur on the left side, especially among men. This fits with sitting in a driving seat on the left of the car and being exposed to sun from the driver’s window. The risk is shared by professional and recreational drivers alike and the longer you spend at the wheel, especially in the sunny months, the greater the cumulative risk of skin cancer.

So always wear a sunscreen when driving, even if the window is up. This ought to be one that blocks both UVA and UVB rays from the sun. You might also consider tinted glass and UV filters on windows because this can cut down harmful rays from the sun. In any case, driving or not, it is a good idea to protect your skin from skin cancer and from aging damage by using sunscreen every day, whatever the weather.

Source:

Butler ST and Fosko S Increased prevalence of left-sided skin cancer Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 12^th March online