Spending so much time on the road, drivers are exposed to harmful UV-rays for hours on end on a daily basis. Therefore, taking care of your skin should be an important part of your pre-trip routine. 

According to Overdrive, using research done by the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than half of people diagnosed with skin cancer in the United States are affected on their left side. 

The left side, of course, is the side routinely exposed while driving. For truck drivers, who spend an abundance of their time on the road, this should be of extra concern as their skin can be harmed by excessive exposure. 

Because there’s no doubt that sun exposure can negatively affect your skin in the long run, drivers should take steps to ensure that they’re protected.

Tinting windows

According to RAYNO Window Film, a quality tint that is properly installed can help block up to 99 percent of harmful UV rays. Because drivers can receive so much sun exposure on their left side, being able to protect yourself against it with tinted windows can be beneficial for your long-term health. 

Nevertheless, this option varies widely among drivers, as companies, states, and the FMCSA all have different rules on how much a window can be tinted or if it can be tinted at all. 

The FMCSA has stated that commercial motor vehicles can have tinted windows, as long as the “light transmission is not restricted to less than 70 percent of normal.” 

If this is an option for you and your truck, it could be one of the more effective ways of making sure that you keep your skin safe.

Another option is to simply to keep your windows closed. While UV rays will still be hitting you without a tint, keeping your windows closed during peak sun hours (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) can also go a long way in helping your skin.

Proper clothing

Look, driving with a hat on really is a stereotype for truck drivers, but it can also help greatly with protecting you from UV ray exposure. Most of the sun exposure coming into your truck is coming from the windshield, so keeping a hat on could help protect your face. 

You’ll also look cool. So, you know, that’s great too. 

Most drivers already keep extra clothing in their trucks for emergencies and changing weather conditions, so this next one should be easy: Have some long sleeve shirts and pants/sweats available to block your skin from the sun when necessary. 

Long sleeves specifically can be extremely effective, as according to SkinCancer.net, the left arm can be most affected by melanoma skin cancers. 

Sunscreen

Sunscreen should already be part of your pre-trip routine. It’s useful for dealing with the UV rays that hit your skin on a daily basis, but it’s even more crucial for drivers. 

In the long term, preventing damage to your skin can have a variety of benefits to your overall health. By applying sunscreen you’ll enhance the health of your skin by preventing premature aging, lowering your chances of skin cancer, and preventing sunburns. 

Generally, dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, but anything higher or lower may also work for you. Regardless of which one you use, make sure to reapply at least every 2 hours and keep an extra bottle in your truck. 

Overall, sun exposure should be taken seriously by drivers, especially considering how long they tend to be exposed every day. By taking precautionary measures, drivers can positively affect their long term health and avoid health conditions such as skin cancer.

So what do you think about skincare? Do you already make sure you’re protected? Let us know in the comments or on social media!

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