One side of this man’s face is 66, his chronological age. The other approximates that of an 86-year-old.
It’s an extreme example, perhaps, but a lesson to us all why we should never be without sun protection – outside or in, winter or summer, rain, hail or shine. That’s unless you’re happy to risk looking years older than your true age – or increase the risk of skin cancers.
Bill McElligott, who has driven trucks around Chicago for 28 years, sought advice from US dermatologist Dr Jennifer Gordon after his grandchildren repeatedly asked him why one side of his face looked so different from the other: relatively smooth on the right and drooping, heavily wrinkled and rutted on the left.
‘We are used to seeing photo damage by the sun – photo ageing – every day, but I was taken aback when I saw how one-sided this was,’ says Dr Gordon.
Mr McElligott revealed he was on the road from early morning to late afternoon each day, delivering milk to shops. He started noticing the changes to the left side of his face about 15 years ago.
Dr Gordon explains Mr McElligott spent so much time in his car to and from work, and then in his truck, that his left side was exposed to UVA rays which can penetrate glass and causes the majority of photo-ageing (UVB rays cause sunburns).
‘Although UVB was traditionally thought to be the wavelength that did all the damage, we now know that UVA leads to skin cancer development as well, but also is the culprit for photo-ageing – the change in skin texture and wrinkling you see,’ says Dr Gordon. ‘This is likely because UVA penetrates more deeply into the skin, so although you don’t often get sunburnt or develop a tan after exposure to UVA, it causes damage that over time leads to ageing -and can lead to skin cancer.’
The Cancer Council of New South Wales says Mr McElligott’s is exhibiting what doctor’s officially call unilateral dermatoheliosis.
‘It’s a shocking image and it shows that you are not out of danger of the effects of the sun by being in a truck or car,’ says Cancer Council of NSW skin cancer prevention manager Vanessa Rock.
But it’s not just professional drivers or people who spend most of their time outdoors by virtue of their jobs who should be concerned.
‘The ultraviolet spectrum is a worry: UVB (290 to 320nm) and UVA (320 – 400 nm) impact us on a daily basis,’ says Associate Professor Greg Goodman, of the Victorian Institute of Dermatology. ‘The nation’s sports obsession and outdoors lifestyle have contributed to producing a prematurely aged and excessively sun damaged population. Fair-skinned Australians are especially at risk,’ he says.
Quick facts on UV radiation
– UVA represents 90 per cent of the total UV radiation that falls on the earth. It is present all year round, throughout the day, and can penetrate cloud cover and window glass.
– UVB is the spectrum that most commonly causes skin cancers but UVA can suppress the skins’ own immune system, helping UVB to produce skin cancers, inducing pigmentation abnormalities and deeper damage to collagen and elastin fibres.
– The UVA wavelength spectrum is not stopped by a simple high SPF sunscreen as the SPF labelling refers only to UVB and protection from sunburn. The sunscreen must claim broad-spectrum activity, for it to contain UVA blocking qualities.
According to Dr Goodman, it is important to use a sufficient amount of sunscreen.
‘Approximately a tablespoon is necessary to cover an average adult body for one application,’ he says. ‘It should be applied 15-30 minutes before sun exposure begins, with repeated application every 1-4 hours if vigorous activity is being undertaken.’
