There was a New England Journal article from April 2012, by Drs. Gordon and Brieva, entitled “Unilateral Dermatoheliosis.” It was great, as a picture tells a thousand words.
What is that? Dermatoheliosis? (It sounds bad! Is it contagious?)
Dermatoheliosis is PHOTOAGING. (yes, we doctors have all sorts of fancy words for simple things). What was great about this article was it was simple. This man was a 69 year old man who drove a delivery truck for 28 years. Sun damage, all day, to one side of his face. For 28 years.
So what happened?
- UVA rays can penetrate through the glass of the car window
- The outer layer (epidermis) thickened
- The elastic fibers were destroyed
- Acne and comedones
from New England Journal, April 2012
Bottom line? He has given us a study where he is his own “control group.” You can see the nonexposed side aged much better.
So what can you do?
- Sunscreen. Daily.
- Retinoids. Retin A if you can tolerate, retinol if you need something weaker. (Do not use if babymaking or breast feeding.)
- Antioxidants. Not as effective as retinoids, but help.
- Clothing and hats. If you aren’t going to be diligent about sunscreen, then use a physical block.
Please see my many aricles on sunscreen. Really makes you want to whip out the sunscreen, doesn’t it?