Sitting in a car can still cause skin cancer

UV rays penetrate glass, so even if you're in a car, you're still at risk of cataracts and skin cancer, especially on the left side of your body.

Just because you’re not in the sun doesn’t mean you’re safe. New research in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology shows that you’re still exposed to harmful rays even when you’re in a car.

According to Men's Health, scientists from the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute, Beverly Hills (USA) discovered that the front window of a car blocks 96% of UV rays, similar to SPF 30 sunscreen. However, the side window only blocks 71%. For some types of cars, this number is only 44%.

People who drive a lot are at risk of skin cancer on the left side of their body. Photo: kratomblast.com.

The more you spend in a car, the more likely you are to develop cataracts and skin damage, including skin cancer, especially on the left side of your body, said study author Brian Boxer Wachler. In countries where people drive on the left side of the road, people tend to get skin cancer on the right side.

Josh Zeichner, a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology, adds that skin cancer can also occur if you regularly run near a gym window or work in an office with too much sunlight.

To reduce your risk of disease, apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to your face, ears, neck, and arms before driving long distances or sitting near a window for long periods of time. Also, avoid the sun between 10am and 2pm.

According to VNE