What a crock. Once more we have someone marketing scare tactics to promote their own, I am sure, financially motivated agenda. I have been driving truck for over 40 years and I can still pass for 50. I have used tanning beds extensively for body building contests. I have and do know hundreds of truck drivers and yet I have never heard of one with cancer on their left arm. Most of my family has or did work outside. Only my Uncle ever had skin cancer and he was a custodian that work mostly inside a high school predominantly in the basement. God as my witness I hope some dumb ass doesn't say this is the exception to the rule. Read the examples I gave. Although by definition a non scientific set of data, none the less compelling.

I guess people react differently. My Grandfather has been a Truck Driver for 46 years now and has no effects on his face at all.

I have been saying this for years. My left cheek has light wrinkles that my right cheek does not -- from driving south every morning (sun from the east) & north every afternoon (sun from the west) for many, many years. I try to take care of my skin, but it doesn't IMPROVE -- it's just a matter of remembering to use sunscreen on a regular basis now so it won't get worse.

How about a little common sense . . . regarding everything. Laying in one spot for hours and hours roasting . . . well, I guess it is true that 'common sense isn't' that common', however, if one looks up the contents of the chemical basters I mean suntan lotions they might not be so eager to slather them on daily either?

Seriously? If the one side of face was so damaged by consistent exposure to the sun - why is that area of his face show an open bright eye- while the other side of his face, protected by shade, has a droopy eyelid??? Come on!!

The sun must have effects as well because his pupil is down on the suntanned side so the sun must be eating away at the bones because hi pupil is 1/2 of a pupil lower....unless the picture has been doctored to show aging.

Give your head a shake. This nonsense doesn't even come up to to the level of "Alligators in the sewers". Do some research for Christ's sake! To analyse the impact of the sun on truck drivers you would have to divide at least a 1, 000 of them inyo a minimum of 5 catagories before you could even start.
Drives with windows up.
Drives with windows down.
Windows up A/C on
Windows up A/C off
Various mix of above over time.
Why only 5 you might ask? Because you would never get enough data if you divided the subjects into the 25 catagories that would ultimately be required for a definitive analysis.
For the record, my dad is 90 and everyone who meets him says he looks 70. He has had no melanomas, yet he was a gardener for 40 years. In his day he neverr even thought of a PF( whatever) suntan lotion in his life, when he got too hot he poored water over himself and continued gardening. What does that mean? Absolutely nothing! He is reseach project of one. Sound familiar.

Nana, you're missing the point. This highlights the REAL damage sun causes to your skin as evidenced by the difference between the left side of this guy's face and his right side. What a contrast

The sun is very dangerous. I have just turned 50 and in my early 40s had to have my nose resected due to skin cancer. This has left me with quite a scar and a disfigured nose, although I am told that I healed very well. I am incredibly lucky as my cancer was the slow growing and non spreading Basal Cell, things could have been far worse. I have learned to live with this scar but often wish that I could go back to my late teens, early 20's and do things over. I would not bake in the sun and spend the day at the beach or pool without protection, I would play it safe and smart and not end up with my disfigured nose... it's a high price to pay for a tan or two. I feel very sorry for this gentleman and hope that others take this seriously and use precautions.

Avoid Tanning through a Window as it Will Increase Your Skin Cancer Risk

Because the UVA has a longer wavelength, it penetrates materials more easily, such as the earth's atmosphere and window glass which will effectively filter out the majority of UVB radiation, but only minimally filters out UVAs. What's the significance of that, you ask?

It's important to remember that vitamin D3 is formed from exposure to UVB rays, whereas UVA radiation actually destroys vitamin D. This helps keep your body in balance; it's one of the protective mechanisms your body has to avoid overdosing on vitamin D when you're outside. However, when you're exposed to sunlight through windows -- in your office, your home or your car -- you get the UVA but virtually none of the beneficial UVB.

This can lead to significant health problems, because in addition to destroying vitamin D3, UVA's also increase oxidative stress. UVA is one of the primary culprits behind skin cancer, and it increases photo aging of your skin. It's also what causes you to tan. You can actually get vitamin D without significantly darkening your skin, because the UVB wavelength does not stimulate the melanin pigment to produce a tan.

Normally, of course, when you get tanned from outdoor sun exposure you're getting both UVA and UVB at the same time, so it's not a problem. But when you are indoors and expose yourself to sunlight filtered through window glass, you are increasing your risk of a variety of conditions, primarily skin cancer, because the UVA's are effectively destroying your vitamin D3 levels while you're getting none of the benefits from UVB, and this can significantly increase your risk of skin cancer. This is one of the reasons why many that drive long hours in their cars develop skin cancer on the arm next to the car window.

We are all aware by now that over exposure to anything will cause damage. Does that mean never go out in the sun, get a tan? I put sunscreen on like moisturizer everyday. I do get a tan because in nice weather I like to be outside as much as I can. I will sit in the shade but I refuse to sit inside, I put up with Winter and sit inside for those months. I believe everything in moderation and use your common sense with everything life has to offer. If you live scared by media's reporting constantly on beware of this and that, you would not live your life. So I live with common sense but I live. I'm not scared to live my life.

If the UVA rays penatrate the window glass...then WHY did this man not have sun damage to his whole face???? The whole time he was exposed to the sun was only on one side??? Some people REQUIRE the sun light to better function in life!!

Our mom is 92 years of age, walked all of her life, summer, winter, spring, fall......no sunscreen, and no cancer...........and she looks great.........
Funny how humans in tropical or equatorial locations don't have as much skin cancer as us North Americans. Its not the sun giving you cancer, its the stuff that you put on your skin..........

i find this to be borderline article ... 1) it is not a 28 yr road trip ... stops and breaks and turns ... never continuous exposure 2) hot time of the sun would be between 11 am and 2 pm and then roof of cab would give protection 3) not every hour of daylight every trip is on the driver's side

Without doubt, sun can cause skin damage and "extreme" exposure can significantly cause skin damage. Pro tennis players are prime examples. However, with sun block and normal sun exposure (2 to 5 hrs per day depending on many factors, not least of which is individual predisposition), humans can enjoy the sun.

Everything in moderation.

Cheers

What really gets me is that you have to be 18? to go into a sunbed.......sunbeds should be shut down period. Yes, many years ago I used to go to one, until I became educated. I also abhore people who get spray tans - safe, yes, but who wants to be orange. Once in a while I put a little self tanner just on my arms & legs - good enough. I walk around in this big city surrounded by people who THINK they look healthy with deep tans. They are SO wrong and just wait until you're over 40 lol. I have a couple of sun spots that try as we may, cannot be lasered off - tried 2 different types of laser. Apparently they are too deep.

so, where is the news? this is titled like people didn't know all along that excessive sun exposure is damaging to the skin...this is no new discovery, thank you very much!

There are millions and millions of drivers in the world and only one proof?

If this is true, there should be a whole lot of elderly truck drivers with the same result although this is not something I have ever seen before.
I'm tired of people using fear to promote the sale of sun tan lotions. They are a problem within themselves with all the chemicals and crap we are putting into our bodies and then into our water supply. How many tons of sunscreen end up in our water supply per year and what is the result of that? The truck driver in the picture also shows a droopier eyelid on the right hand side, the unexposed side. What was the cause of that while the other eye is droop free?

The listed SPF ratings on most bottles of sunscreen only refer to UVB rays. Most chemical sunscreens do NOT protect against UVA rays, which are the ones responsible for premature aging and also cause skin cancer. They're also full of nasty stuff like oxybenzone, synthetic fragrances, nanoparticles, formaldehyde releasers, and some still use PABA. Go Google 'em. I'm not saying don't use sunscreen - that would be dumb of me! - I'm just saying look into it, and don't assume that the huge cosmetics companies have your best interests at heart. Because they don't. There are broad spectrum physical sunscreens available that are much, much more effective and FAR better for you.

this article isn't about lotions it's just proof of what the sun can do. We all know about uv protection anyway.

Problem is not lack of sun blocker, lotion or any of that. It comes down to race! He's a whitey. Whiteys are white because they lack the pigment necessary for the natural protection against UVA rays. If you choose an occupation exposing yourself to the risks inherited in your trade, you only have yourself to blame. Probably why you don't see to many albinos laying tar on rooftops of buildings. Whiteys always pay the price of sun exposure later in their age. Boomers of the 70's obsessed with the Farrah Fawcett tan back then, skin cancer treatment clinics are rejoicing. Lots of money to be made in treating cancer, why else do you think they don't want to find a cure?

Also i bet he was a SMOKER as well..Smoking weakens the skin,Which would add to his wrinkled skin..

I am constantly bombarded with commercials, magazine ads and online articles that push this whole "SUN IS BAD! DON'T TAN EVER! GOD FORBID YOU GET A WRINKLE AT THE AGE OF 50!!!!!!!!!!" - Now, I'm a 25 year old woman who lives in a northern climate so I don't get much sun, yet why do I feel so paranoid about aging? Shame on the media and anybody who tries to tell me aging is bad! I want to embrace gray hair and wrinkles, not fear it.

Yes, protection from the sun is important. Maybe car manufacturers will start giving us cars with windows that provide both UVA and UVB protection. As for sunscreens, be careful with what you choose. Studies have shown that any sunscreen containing Vitamin A can increase the growth of tumours and lesions in sunexposed skin. The FDA has actually known of this danger for more than a decade but continues to ignore the information. Here's a great website to help you choose a safe sunscreen http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2012sunscreen/ they have an app for that too. It seems to me that covering up and staying in the shade are the best way to protect yourself from the harm of sun exposure.

There's always been lifer truck drivers -- I've never seen this before even with lifer truck drivers in my family. I think the guy just had weak skin. ;-)

Also, to the poster above - keep in mind an SPF rating is how well a sunscreen blocks the good rays - not the bad ones. Some bizarre irony there. There's no need to be afraid of the sun - just don't overdo it and avoid burns if possible.

So many "stoo much sun" stories are ISOLATED CASES. as a child and youth, I spent most of my avaliable waking hours in the open - sun, wind, and rain swept. as an adult I spent many years in India, Aden, and Saudi Arabia. In Arabia we worked in the mornings and afternoon at the beaches, sailing, swimming, and laying around working on the tans. Except when tanning, neither I nor my friends used suncream. I knor from experience and discussions with others that some people are more effected by the sun, while others are only slightly or not at all effected. As an ex ginger haired (nearly bald now) person, I quickly turned red, but it never permanently effected, and my facialskin is fairly smooth and un-marked for a 74 year old man. I am generally in good health and pretty good shape. Iplay golf 3 or more times a week when I can (grandparenting duties permitting). So, you cannot judge the whole by critically examining a tiny sample.

I know many truck drivers that have driven as many years as this gentleman.
Their skin is the same on either side of the face. Perhaps this man has a unique skin condition that caused one side of his face to wrinkle. My father farmed for 40 years and he got dark brown every year from tanning. Never had a problem. He lived until 95 and his skin was not wrinkled. Why make an assumption on one case?

have you never seen photos of people that live off the land? Same thing happens to them. Educate yourself.

This is an exception. There are many people there that have had their face exposed to the sun and look nothing like this . From Bikers to truck drivers or outside workers.
There maybe other factors here besides the sun.

To the comment above : Why do you want to go in sun at all if you have an extra thick coat of UV protection lotion ? To get some benefit from sun to turn pro-vitamin D into vitamin D you need to be exposed to sun without having any protection. The secret is not to overdo it. I am sure you or anyone else have some daily activities that you need to perform at daylight and that should be enough sunshine that one needs. Purposely suntanning with sunscrean lotion on is useless because you are wasting your time, and not even getting a tan.

this does not surprise me as we all know the sun ages you. look at it this way we all are aging and we cant stop this process unless you can afford cosmetic surgery.
either way with the added sun or without we all get wrinkles. its how you maintain your life style. Im 51 Love the sun and use the tanning beds once a week, I dont look any older then 40 and most say I'm lying about my age when they ask my age. Its all about your life style and what you eat I say. Its not only the sun and its damageing rays its in your food its all around you. Stress of everyday life can age you just as fast. So stop trying to blame it on the sun.

Oh Please! this is a pharmacutical advertisement! I am 72 yrs old, lived by the beach my whole life and I don't look anything close to that! this is a scare tactic taken against outdoor/indoor tanning, People don't believe everything you read, what about some of mt relatives in Hawaii, all year round in the sun? they look healthy and have great skin, so don't be slandering the sun and its benefits. go help cure aids or cancer instead of blaming causes you really don't have 100% facts on, your studies are not accurate, you choose people that look old for their age and don't show the good side of tanning , so what next close all beaches and stay away from resorts? this image is ridiculous, life's to short not to enjoy outsoor living, contact Steve Gilroy (google)he'll tell you this is a farce

No, I won't reduce how much time I spend in the sun, but I do wear sun screen and I don't head out to specifically tan. But these people who do go out to tan daily and even pay money to have a machine toast them are asking for trouble.

You don't mention anything about UV and UVB protection, nothing about suncare. There are so many SPF sun care lotions in the stores right now. Sun care is important, any lotion with SPF is great before being expose to the UV and UVB rays. Maybe that driver never ever wore any sun SPF lotion in his entire life.???? Can you find out?
My favorites are AVENE and COPPERTONE although everybody claims that the best is La Roche Posay ANTHELIOS XL SPF 30.