Does Driving Increase Your Risk of Developing Skin Cancer?

An updated study titled the “Increased Prevalence of Left-sided Skin Cancers” was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in March. The study theorizes that increased exposure to the sun while driving may be contributing to the development of skin cancer.

The article’s authors, Susan T. Butler and Scott W. Fosko, studied 1,050 people in St. Louis and found that skin cancer on the face was more likely to occur on the left side. The prevalence of left-sided facial skin cancers was most prevalent in men.

Because the left side of the face is exposed to the window and the sun while driving, the study’s authors believe that the cumulative UVA exposure can lead to skin cancer.

Daily use of sunscreen is the best defense against skin cancer. That is why it is so important to remember to use sunscreen on the face, neck, arms, hands, and any other areas of the body that are exposed to the sun.