Many years may pass without even noticing sun exposure, until finally the disease requires a visit to the oncologist. The sooner you start thinking about skin cancer prevention, the better.
Skin cancer is a threat that many do not take seriously. Aubrianna McEvoy, a dermatologist at Sightman Cancer Hospital, admits that she often hears patients with this diagnosis say, “But I only had one serious sunburn!” However, even this is enough for the disease to develop.
Woe to drivers
As plastic surgeon James Chao explains, malignant skin tumors most often occur on the left side of the body in countries where traffic drives on the right side of the road.
That’s because typical car windows only block 55 to 75 percent of the sun’s rays. As a result, drivers’ left cheek, temples and ear suffer from sun damage year after year, according to Huffpost.
Sometimes, drivers may even notice more age spots and wrinkles on the left side of their face as they age.
Simple math
Some people think that skin cancer is only a problem for tanning bed users or people who spend hours in the sun. However, the effects of short-term but regular exposure should not be underestimated.
Imagine spending 15 minutes a day in the sun unprotected year after year. Over the next 10 to 20 years, you will have accumulated thousands of hours of unprotected UV exposure.
These 15 minutes can easily be accumulated while driving to work, waiting at the bus stop, walking the dog or looking after your child. It is especially dangerous if it all happens during the peak hours of the sun – from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Do not neglect these areas
The scalp is an area that no one thinks about protecting from the sun. However, areas that are not covered by hair (such as a track or baldness) suffer from the sun every year and this damage accumulates. So don’t forget to wear a hat in summer.
The skin around the eyes is another particularly vulnerable area. We often spend a lot of time with our heads over our phones, and not all sunglasses will protect your upper eyelids, eyebrows and temples in this position. It may seem like a small thing, but over the years it can cause eyelid swelling.
