Motorists are being advised to practice “safe sun” to prevent skin cancer. The advice comes from a leading plastic surgeon who has claimed that motorists who spend long stints behind the wheel are at an increased risk of contracting skin cancer.
Dr Jason Kelly, of the Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons, says that all people whose occupation involves spending a long stint in a car or other vehicle are at an increased risk of getting skin cancer.
He commented: “Even in the dull, cloudy Irish climate UVA rays from the sun can cause skin cancer. Whereas UVB rays cause sunburn, UVA rays, which can penetrate windscreen glass, cause dermatological damage that can also lead to skin cancer.”
He added: “It has long been known that certain occupations such as farmers or fishermen who spend a lot of time outdoors have a higher risk of skin cancer and sun damage to their skin.
“However, cancer specialists are finding an increasing number of patients who drive for professional reasons are coming to them with very heavy UVA damage to the part of their faces that are on the ‘window side’.”
He pointed out that “scans show that a professional driver’s face can show ageing of up to 20 years more on one side than the other.
“To prevent this, drivers in Ireland should use sunscreen as part of their everyday routine as much as putting on a seatbelt.”
