Dermatology / 30.11.2024

[caption id="attachment_65213" align="aligncenter" width="500"]skincare-for-drivers Source[/caption] When you think about protecting your skin from harmful UV rays, you might imagine lounging on the beach or spending time outdoors. For some, it can be hard to remember the importance of doing so within a vehicle, too. Exposing your skin to harmful UV radiation can lead to premature aging and even increasing the risk of skin cancer. In this article, we'll delve into how sun exposure through car windows contributes to skin damage, and more importantly, how you can protect your skin while behind the wheel.

How sun exposure affects your skin while driving

When driving during daylight hours, you’re exposed to UV rays that can penetrate through your car windows. Many people believe that they are protected from the sun while in their vehicles, but the reality is that UV rays are still able to reach you. The sun emits two types of UV radiation that affect the skin: UVA and UVB rays. UVA ray exposure can cause premature aging, wrinkles, and fine lines. UVB rays, on the other hand, are responsible for sunburns and can also damage the skin’s DNA, leading to an increased risk of skin cancer. While most car windows block the majority of UVB rays, they don't block them all. On top of this, they often allow UVA rays to pass through. 74 percent of melanomas appear on the left side of the body of those in the United States, and this happens to be the side the driver's window is on. In fact, the risk is so significant that drivers may experience accelerated aging on their left side compared to the right. This type of sun exposure is often subtle and unnoticed but can have long-term consequences.
Author Interviews, Macular Degeneration, Ophthalmology, PNAS / 27.10.2021

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_58321" align="alignleft" width="200"]Bradley D. Gelfand PhD Center for Advanced Vision Science Department of Ophthalmology Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville, VA 22908 Dr. Gelfand[/caption] Bradley D. Gelfand PhD Center for Advanced Vision Science Department of Ophthalmology Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville, VA 22908  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly describe dry AMD? Response: Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a form of AMD that affects about 11 million people in the United States, and many millions more worldwide. Dry AMD is a disease affecting the macula, the central part of our retina that is responsible for fine visual acuity tasks - things like reading, driving, and recognizing faces. Dry AMD typically develops in people in their 6th, 7th, and 8th decades of life and begins with small changes to the retina that are unlikely to affect vision at first. As the disease progresses, it can develop into more advanced stages ("wet" AMD and geographic atrophy), which can cause blindness. Unfortunately, there is no approved treatment that can prevent dry AMD or its progression to advanced blinding stages.
AHA Journals, Author Interviews, Diabetes, Stroke / 08.02.2019

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_47394" align="alignleft" width="198"]Prof-Karen-C-Johnston Prof. Johnston[/caption] Karen C. Johnston MD Professor and Chair, Neurology School of Medicine University of Virginia MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: We know that acute ischemic stroke patient with hyperglycemia at presentation have worse outcomes. We also know if we lower the glucose too low that this is bad for ischemic brain also. T he SHINE trial addressed a world wide debate about whether intensive treatment of hyperglycemia is beneficial. We assessed the efficacy and safety of an intensive glucose control protocol with a target glucose of 80-130 mg/dL compared to a more standard protocol with a target of less than 180 mg/dL.