05/15/2007

SKIN CANCER ALERT FOR DRIVERS

Research indicates that people who spend a significant amount of time behind the wheel of their vehicles face an elevated risk of developing skin cancer on the left sides of their bodies. Areas found to be particularly vulnerable to this effect were the sun-exposed parts of male drivers’ bodies. In fact, nearly two-thirds of the left sided cancers were found on men’s heads, necks, arms, and hands. This incidence correlates directly to the areas of the body that are most often exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation while driving. While most front windshields are designed to block both the sun’s ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays, side and rear windows are typically designed to block only UVB rays.

If you drive, you are exposing your skin to harmful UV rays. Protect your skin by wearing sun screen and by examining any moles that you have for changes in size, color, shape, or appearance. To arrange an evaluation from a Board Certified Dermatologist, please call ELMHURST DERMATOLOGY at 630-832-2111. We offer diagnosis and treatment of skin problems and diseases, including skin cancer. Do you have unwanted wrinkles between your eyebrows, on your forehead, or near your eyes? We offer Botox R injections to minimize those dynamic wrinkles. The practice is located at 242 N. York Road, Suite 101, Elmhurst.

P.S. As women spend more time driving to work and family activities, they are likely to catch up with men (as a group) with respect to their incidence of left-sided skin cancers.