For more than 40 years, a 92-year-old lady used sunscreen to her face but not her neck; a picture of the results reveals the startling effects on her skin.
Dermatologist Dr. Avi Bitterman from New York shared the image of the unidentified lady on Twitter on Friday. Her neck skin has UV damage visible, but her face, where sunscreen was administered, has far less discolouration and wrinkles.
More than 239,000 people had liked the image as of Tuesday, and more than 30,500 have retweeted it, mostly as a reminder to use sunscreen on all exposed body areas.
The image was first published in October 2021 as part of a paper on skin cancer and ageing as an illustration of the benefits of sun protection in the Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.
UV light may harm skin cells and result in permanent discolouration and wrinkles. UV light is an invisible kind of radiation that comes from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds.
According to the American Cancer Society, exposure to UV is also the most avoidable cause of skin cancer, which is “by far” the most frequent kind of cancer (ACS)
The chance of developing skin cancer is higher in certain individuals than in others, including those with lighter skin, blue or green eyes, easily burned skin, blond hair, or those who have had it in the family. However, anybody may get the disease.
According to research from the American Association of Dermatology Association, almost one in five Americans will have skin cancer at some point in their lives.
Wear a hat and sunscreen year-round to protect yourself from sun damage.
Everyone should apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15, or higher to all exposed body regions before going outdoors if the UV index is 3 or higher, according to the CDC, with the exception of infants less than six months.
The CDC advises getting treatment for difficult-to-reach areas like your back.
The stronger the UV protection, the higher the SPF number.
According to the CDC, individuals should wear SPF year-round even when it’s cloudy since UV radiation is there even in the winter and when it’s cloudy, only in less levels.
The CDC advises picking clothing that covers the skin, spending time in the shade, using sunglasses and a hat, and protecting oneself from UV rays.