- UVA and UVB rays can get through your car’s side windows and cause sun damage on your skin.
- Most cars have windshields that block UV rays, but the side windows are not designed to block UV rays.
- Wearing sunscreen before you drive can help prevent skin cancer.
Going on a drive on a sunny day sounds like a relaxing task that doesn’t involve much extra planning. What you might not realize is that the sun coming through your car windows can damage your skin. If you don’t plan ahead and apply sunscreen to your exposed skin, such as face, ears, neck, and arms, you could end up with a sunburn or even put yourself at risk for skin cancer. Keep reading to learn more about your car’s natural defenses against UV rays and why you may want to use sunscreen while driving.
Do Car Windows Have UV Protection? The Science of Glass and Sunlight
You could be thinking, Hold on, I thought car windows have UV protection built into them! You are partly right. Car windshields typically do have UV protection built into them. They are made of laminated glass, which means there’s a layer of plastic between the layers of glass, and the plastic layer can absorb UV rays, so they do not hit your skin.
The side windows in your car probably do not protect you against the sun’s harmful UV rays. Side windows are made of tempered glass, with no layer of UV-absorbing plastic in them. If you’ve ever experienced a painful sunburn on your left arm due to a long car ride, you know that your side window didn’t do much to stop harm from reaching your skin.
UVA vs. UVB: Why Your Windshield Isn’t Enough
The sun’s UV rays come in three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC.
- UVC rays are blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere, so they are not a concern.
- UVB rays are the ones that burn the surface of your skin.
- UVA rays are the type that penetrate further into the skin and cause more damage. They can cause premature aging, wrinkles, sun spots, and even skin cancer.
Windshields do a fairly decent job of blocking most UVA and UVB rays thanks to the laminated glass. The glass in your car’s side windows might block some of the UVB rays, but they don’t do much to stop the UVA rays from hitting your exposed skin and penetrating, causing damage that you might not know about until later in your life.
The Hidden Risks of Skipping Sunscreen While Driving
When you drive without first protecting your skin with sunscreen, you may not be aware of the harmful UV rays that are soaking into your skin. As you drive, you are most likely concentrating on the road conditions, the traffic, your next turn-off, and even the songs on the radio. Most drivers do not consider the hidden damage of the sunlight that is coming in through the windows. In fact, if you even think about the sun, it might be a happy thought about sunshine cheering up your day!
While happy thoughts are certainly encouraged, we also strongly encourage you to apply sunscreen.
Signs of Sun Damage on the Driver’s Side of the Face
If you are not convinced that driving-related sun damage is a real thing, check out this scientific study. It shows that skin cancer is significantly more prevalent on the left side of people’s faces than on the right side, and this is especially true for men. Why? Because when you drive a vehicle, the left side of your face is exposed to the most sunlight. If you have a long commute, take frequent road trips, or drive a truck or van for your career, you are at more of a risk for skin cancer on the left side of the face.
Look for signs of sun damage on your left side. These signs could include wrinkles, blotchy patches of pigmentation, rough skin texture, or the appearance of tiny blood vessels. Some people develop a permanently red neck.
How to Protect Your Skin During Your Daily Commute
Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of 30 SPF or more to your exposed skin before you begin your drive. Sunscreen does wear off after a few hours, so be sure to reapply later in the day. Keeping a bottle of sunscreen in your car is a smart idea because then you never have an excuse not to use it.
Other ways you can protect your skin while driving include wearing dark clothing with long sleeves. Hats with brims may help protect some parts of your skin, too. Use lip balm with UV protection to protect your lips. Wear sunglasses with built-in UV protection to protect your eyes and the skin around them.
You may consider adding window tinting to your side windows. Do your research first because some states make it illegal to have dark tints on windows, and some window tinting products do not protect against UV rays.
Schedule Your Professional Skin Exam at Affiliated Dermatology®
At Affiliated Dermatology®, we care about the condition of your skin. Whether you have an unusual spot on your skin that you want us to check out, or you would like a thorough skin exam to help you guard against skin cancer, we encourage you to schedule a professional skin exam.
Don’t let your time in the driver’s seat be a hindrance to your skin health. Contact us with any questions so we can help you stay on top of your skin care!
Image credit: // Shutterstock // AYO Production
