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Courtesy of the New England Journal of Medicine
While "tan mom" Patricia Krentcil’s skin illustrates what happens when a person chronically fake bakes, accidental exposure to sunlight can cause as many wrinkles without a person even being aware of it.
An unnamed 69-year-old man visited doctors at Northwestern University and with wrinkles etched into the left side of his face -- the lines are so deep that the left side looks as if it belongs to a man 20 years older, while the right side seems age-appropriate. The startling image appears in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
The man worked as a delivery truck driver for 25 years, and over time, the UVA rays shining through the truck window caused severe wrinkling and over-aging. UVA rays, or long wave ultraviolet rays, account for about 95 percent of the UV radiation reaching the Earth from the sun, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. UVB rays, or short-wave ultraviolet radiation, cause the red blistering of sunburn, and though these rays do not penetrate as deeply as UVA rays, they contribute to the development of skin cancers.
Physicians call these deep lines caused by overexposure to UV rays dermatoheliosis, though most people know it as photoaging, the wrinkling and cracking of skin caused by too much time in the sun (or the tanning bed). During the 25 years the man drove his truck, the UVA rays hitting his skin damaged the epidermis and upper layers of his dermis, where collagen is. Collagen helps make the skin elastic and prevents such crevasses.
Repeated exposure to UVA rays also thickens the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the epidermis, which protects the body from infection, chemicals, and environmental stresses. This toughening is the body’s way of attempting to protect itself from sun damage.
The physicians, Dr. Jennifer R.S. Gordon and Dr. Joaquin C. Brieva of Northwestern University, note that the driver most likely was exposed to UVA rays, which are less likely to cause cancer than UVB, but do play a role in skin cancers.
"I see photoaging and photodamage every day in clinic, but not so starkly demarcated," Gordon said via email. "Otherwise we typically see symmetric damage. Interestingly, there are some differences in which side of the body skin cancers occur more often on that some people think are attributed to driving habits because they vary based on country, gender, passenger/driver, etc."
The doctors recommended treatment for the driver that involves monitoring him for the development of cancer and prescribing a topical retinoid, which may erase some of the damage. Most people can easily prevent photoaging by slathering on the sunscreen and wearing protective clothing and hats (even if you think you’ll be shaded).
Related:
- What caused the N.J. tanning mom's leathery look?
- Here's what a lightning strike can do to your skin
- Taking a skin allergy and making it art -- you must see these photos
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Leave a Comment:
You could not ask for a better comparative study than this gentleman's face, for the damage possible by the sun!!! He should get a modelling contract for a sunscreen company!
Ya, that is a great example. In a weird thought, I'm glad that I'm a married female. I spend part of my time driving myself around for basic things, but when we go out as a family, my husband drives. So at least my wrinkles will be about the same :D
I work with guys that drive for a living. They joke about the "tan arm" they get from driving long distances. This is safety meeting material for sure.
It seems like this would be good evidence to push for better UV shielding in automobile windows, or at least on commercial trucks. On course this would only help if the drivers kept the windows up. Otherwise the only option is to make sure they wear high SPF sun screen to prevent damage. I hope everyone who does a lot of driving sees this article, it could save them from a lot of problems later in life.
I had something similar happen to me. But it turned out to be my tempurpedic mattress. Just an FYI, memory foam beds and pillows contain formaldehyde. As soon as I got it out of the house, it all went away. I wonder what type of bed this guy is sleeping on because most of the deep wrinkles are on the part of his face where it would hit the pillow.
I don't see light ray damge as that localized. Was the sun always down low and out the left window when he drove? Since it's only a cosmetic condition at this point, did this guy just get a short story and the door?
Scott,just curious--were you sleeping directly on the memory foam, or did you have something between it and your skin? A sheet? Anything more, like a mattress pad?
That would be great if the automobile manufacturers could make the windows UVA proof, but will most likely not happen - too expensive. My husband's skin gets very dark in the summer - he tans, but I don't - just by driving to and from work. He doesn't have any wrinkles, tho', and he's in his early 60s.
Maybe everyone should wear sunscreen during their commute to work.
Some people view sunscreen as icky, oily, or smelling like regular tanning lotion or perhaps like Hawaiian Tropic. However, there are some very good facial moisturizing products out there that look like thin lotion and come in unscented, non-comedogenic varieties. Both men and women can use these without looking or smelling like they have sunscreen on.
At a minimum, dermatologists usually recommend 30 SPF for fair-to-moderate skin tones. Sometimes I use Oil of Olay unscented sensitive-skin moisturizer with 20 SPF; other times I use what the doctor recommended which is a little bit more expensive: Neutrogena 30 SPF facial moisturizer. After applied, women can simply put their makeup on over top.
The sunscreen moisturizer also acts to smooth out tiny wrinkles, so when you apply liquid makeup (can get this also with SPF protection) or powder on your face, it goes on and stays nicer looking. Makes your skin look and feel smooth and soft while protecting you from the sun's harmful rays!
One caveat: if you frequently burn when exposed to the sun, you will probably need a higher SPF than I mentioned. If you can't find a high-SPF sunscreen moisturizer you like at the store, check eBay or online shopping websites.
I've wore sun screen off and on my whole life, but recently I started using it everyday. And I just realized I shoud have never missed a day. I need an indoor court to shoot baskets this summer!!!
HN 1558401 Yes I had sheets, and I tried plastic mattress covers as well. But its the vapors that the mattress emits. I got rid of the memory foam pillows first and it went away on my face. But until I got rid of the mattress I had a rash over the rest of my body. My sheets were bloody in the mornings from me scratching all night long. When I would sweat, it felt like acid was coming out my skin.
Thanks, Scott, for your info. I sleep on a memory foam mattress topper, and have never had a problem. I did let it "outgas" for several days in a room with an open window before using it, though I'm sure that didn't take care of 100% of it. Nevertheless, it's saved me from a lot of pain, so I"ll stick with it. Sounds to me like you're extra sensitive to it, an allergy perhaps, and a possibility others should be aware of.
In response to amietamant:
Since I have small grandchildren at my house quite often I always keep the "Kids" suncreen around and it has a much higher SPF. Currently I have two with SPF's of 70 and 85 respectively. I like to use either one of those especially if I know I'll be outdoors for long periods of time. You can buy these at almost any type of store that sells sunscreen so this might be another option if people are looking for a higher SPF. When the little ones are not around I always wear the regular 30 even if I am just indoors at home. My dermatologist said more sun comes in your windows at home than you realize and it's best to stay protected all the time. Night is always the exception of course!
Up grading the windows on a new car is apparently well worth it.
ive been a trucker for 16 years, my father drove truck for 45 years , and my grandfather drove truck as well, and i can tell you getting wrinkles, is the least of our worrys, it,s a life that i love but very few people could do it, most times your running on little or no sleep, my back hurts all the time, most of us are at least a little over waight from the lack of exersize, and none of us eat right, add to this that our industry, has been flat for about 10 years now, and im making the same amount of monie i was 10 years ago, the truth is i don,t have enough time to tell you all of the horror storys about trucking, ... why do i do it, well i don,t want to sit behind a desk, and i realy don,t wan,t to stand on an assimbly line, it,s one of the few jobs where theres no one looking over your shoulder to see if your doing your work, besides thats all ive done for the last 16 years i don,t even know what eles i could do at this stage,
I too loved it for 40 years and would do it again, but you forgot the kidney, knee, and neck damage of which I eventually wound up with all.
back surgery, 2 knee replacements and neck that will have to have surgery soon and kidney stones the size of golf balls (exaggeration)
I was thinking the same thing. Skin wrinkles are the least of a truck driver's worries. It is a very unhealthy lifestyle for the reasons that you mention.
Don't forget the almost constant stress. Too early, running late, no place to park for the night, dispatcher is a complete azzhat and is today the day you're going to run over the little prick in the car passing on the right....
Kidney, lumbar, prostate dysfunction is nearly universal in truckers sitting driving 10 hours a day on pickup and delivery schedules because the body is meant to be used not to sit. And kyphosis and osteoporosis in common because not putting stress onto the muscles in turn onto the bones to support the re-uptake of calcium and other minerals into the bones. I only did it for 10 years in 48 states probably less than one million two hundred fifty thousands miles. There are guys out there on the road for over 40 years trucking who got millions of miles under their belts. I had to quit, I never wanted to but I developed weak bladder muscles and could not urinate anymore.....be proud of these guys love them forever for keeping our country open. I got bullet holes in the side of my truck for souvenirs from being in all the combat zones of the USA.
I am not convinced conclusively the sun rays have got anything whatsoever to do with the amounts of skin cancer showing up now and most all other cancers. It may be that the dermatologists just read each others reports and just joined the band wagon as the old term goes. I have my own publishing co. and will soon be publishing my findings......as a general rule do not trust the scientists, medical doctors and/ or drug companies to find some magic cure in the form of various drugs for the diseases as we know them today but look more towards a qualified holistic practitioner for the answers......just look at all the lawsuits out there now including class action onto MERCK and many others who make billions off their drug FOSAMAX annually known to cause fatal jaw infections and femur fractures and actually exacerbate bone loss. Because there is no drug on the market that does not have some side affects so MERCK developed another drug to treat all the side affects that their FOSAMAX drug is causing, multiply that to all the other drugs companies in the world.
So what? The nanny state going to jump into honest vocations?
Was the dude driving in Zap, North Dakota, or Death Valley? Makes a difference, eh? What a crock.
Maybe his wife only beat him on one side of his face.
I ended up driving a truck a couple years ago and I actually got made fun of because I developed a lopsided tan during the summer. I should have taken a picture of it.
Public Safety Alert! Do NOT link to the photo unless you also want to see old man scrotum rash! Arrggh, my retinas...
I have worked outside in the California sun for 30 of my last 50 years and I hate to say I'm not showing any signs of being over 48 and I'm sure that would be much less if I had a full head of hair, (hair loss has nothing to do with sun). While my wife on the other hand has avoided the sun her entire life and (if she never sees this I'll remain healthy) looks 10 years older than her age. This idea that sun damages skin may be true but I suspect it's not only the sun that plays a part in wrinkles and age spots. Her father was a sun worshiper and a nudist and died at 84 of Alzheimer. I suspect the same way she may end up if a cure isn't found. Sad how her skin is turning old but her mind is turning new.
Confussed - You must be a rarity. My brother-in-law works for a sewer district, so is exposed to all the elements, including 100 degree weather with lots of sun exposure. He has wrinkles, is very tanned and at 58, looks much older than I do at 61 (rarely go out in the sun, except to walk for exercise). My sister, who is 8 years younger, also has a lot more wrinkles than I do, but they have a swimming pool in the backyard and is already very dark - not unlike the "tanning mom". I'm guessing genetics have a lot to do with wrinkles, but why take such a risk?
While a little sun exposure is necessary, for Vitamin D, too much can be detrimental for your skin.
We know that the sun plays a big part in premature aging, but genetics do too and hydration, proper nutrition, staying active, avoiding stress, getting plenty of sleep and so on. In short, the list is long.
When living in Florida, I had bought my first car and had dark window tints installed professionally. It's almost mandatory.
Big L-4172784 banned, trolling the POTUS on every thread.
Truck drivers are a menace on the roadways of America: a menace to society in general; making driving so much more dangerous than it should be. They do not seem to know the meaning of the word ‘COURTESY'. Half-wholes! They do get what is coming to them: a life of misery.
Here is a solution: Do half of your driving in Europe and sun the other side of your face.
Good Luck!
Wow! Are you a professional driver? My my my, so truckers are a menace? Think you got your wires crossed my friend! My Father who has been driving big trucks his whole life might disagree with you. Courtesy? Now, there's a word most folks don't know the meaning of. The biggest menace on the roads are people who think a big rig can just "stop on a dime." Give the truckers a break! Not to start an argument but COME ON!!!
Yes, I buy local. Ride my bicycle, which I made myself from scrap and, work in the local clinic helping victims of truck accidents. So be it.
Kinda like the way most of us feel about having the illegal kenyan born pro gay potus in our white house, used and abused; hoping for change in 2012 maybe he will move back to kenya
It's Bush's fault.
In my 20s and 30s I drove around Las Vegas and never had A/C in my cars so I kept the windows down. I definitely have deeper crows' feet on the left side of my face. I'm female so I hate it.
To the guy who doesnt like truckers just ask urself where are u going to get food clothes or gas for ur car.
If you have it a trucker brought it
Exactly!!! What is wrong with some people??? Maybe the zombies are already here??
When I first saw this image on facebook yesterday, I checked snopes to see if it was even true, as it struck me as something that was not. Now I see it here, so I guess it is true - however, what I don't understand is why you don't see something like that more commonly. There are plenty of people who drive for a living for 25 and more years, and I'm betting those truckers aren't using sunscreen. So I really think there was some weakness already present in this man's face that would allow him to be so sensitive to sun damage. I am skeptical of the whole thing.
I agree with an earlier post. My dad drove to-from work for 40 years in the city of Chicago. He has had malinoma polyps removed from his face, arms, and neck. I am sure it is from the summer "tans" he used to get every year. It is not just a truck driver issue. It is an every-person issue.
This is not news, if you do not know that radiation is harmful then you must be living in a cave.
So how much help is having the side window rolled up??? Back in the day, air conditioning was rare in trucks and cars and having the side window and vent open all summer was the norm. However lots of people drove for a living and I never noticed this skin condition before. This man must have been unusually sensitive.
Worked in the elements my whole life.buidings,bridges,but we were constantly moving...Alot of us has skin as smooth as we did 30 yrs ago...constant exposure such as layin in a lawn chair bakin and you'll look like the gingerbread gal...
I have always thought my face is older on my left side because I sleep on that side. From my eye to hollow cheek to my neck it is at least 5 years older. Now it appears it is because I drove a lot.
Did the damage occur because the window was open or can it still occur when it is closed. The article seems to leave that open. My uncle had a glass greenhouse that he worked in for 30 years and his skin was always smooth for his age.