Wear sunscreen. Especially if you're driving a van. That's because van drivers are being reminded to protect themselves from the sun during the current spell of hot weather.
Research involving 1,000 UK van drivers found that while 63% are aware ultraviolet (UV) rays can penetrate vehicle glass, 44% said they do not apply sunscreen before driving. The survey also found that 63% regularly drive with the windows down, increasing direct exposure to sunlight.
According to Dr Ed Robinson, a non-surgical cosmetic doctor, van drivers can be particularly vulnerable because of the amount of time they spend on the road during daylight hours.
“While windscreens block most UVB rays and a large proportion of UVA, side windows allow significantly more UVA to pass through,” he explained. “UVA penetrates deeper into the skin and is associated with premature ageing, pigmentation and an increased risk of skin cancer.”
He added that prolonged exposure can lead to what has become known as “white van tan” – where one side of the body, typically the right arm, face and hand in UK right-hand-drive vehicles, receives repeated daily sun exposure.
“It may appear to be nothing more than an occupational tan, but medically it’s a sign of repeated UV damage,” said Robinson.
“Over time this can result in pigmentation, rough skin texture, redness, broken capillaries, actinic keratoses and accelerated collagen loss,” he added.
Dr Robinson recommends applying a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen to exposed areas, including the face, neck, ears, hands and arms, before setting off, with regular reapplication if drivers spend time outside the vehicle, perspire heavily or keep the windows open.
He also urged drivers to seek medical advice if they notice new or changing moles, persistent scaly patches, lesions that fail to heal, or unusual areas of pigmentation.
With much of the UK experiencing high temperatures this week, occupational health experts say simple precautions such as sunscreen, keeping hydrated and limiting unnecessary sun exposure where possible can help reduce the long-term health risks for drivers who spend their working day on the road.
More than 25 years after Baz Luhrmann popularised the phrase “wear sunscreen” it remains especially relevant for van drivers, whose working day can involve hours of exposure to UV rays behind the wheel, without even realising.
