Currently 12,000 new cases of malignant melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, are diagnosed every year. Skin cancer trends continue to rise with Cancer Research UK stating that it will become the fourth most common cancer for men and for women in the UK by 2024. Its website advises that: “if you are driving long distances for long periods of time, you need to make sure you are using sun protection on sunny days.”
By the age of 60, a typical adult in the UK will have spent 10,000 hours in the car. Yet many older people are unaware that the majority of car windows, including many tinted windows, do not block UVA, a key causal factor of skin damage and skin cancer.
Even fewer consider UVA to be a threat except during scorching heat. But UVA rays are the most prominent form of UV light, and penetrate car windows, and our skin, even on cloudy days.
Over 55’s are less likely to wear sun cream than any other age group and around six out of ten of the retired population do not consider UVA rays to be a risk in the car. Through their lack of awareness they are putting themselves at risk, particularly as older people may often have more time to be out on the road for leisure reasons during daylight hours.
Complete protection against UVA and UVB rays can be achieved by applying a high SPF factor sun cream or installing solar protection window film on car windows. This film, the equivalent of applying an SPF285+ sun cream in the car, is a one-time application to existing glass, and immediately blocks over 99% of all UV rays.
By taking the lead in protecting themselves older people will also be setting a good example for their children and grandchildren.
Click here to access more useful information for the over 50s from in my prime.
