As temperatures rise across the UK and another heatwave takes hold, van insurance expert MoneySuperMarket is warning drivers about the UV risks they can experience inside their vehicle during sunny weather.
MoneySuperMarket has partnered with Dr Ed Robinson, an award-winning non-surgical cosmetic doctor and founder of Dr Ed Robinson Aesthetics, to discuss how UV exposure can affect van drivers.
Why are van drivers more at risk?
Vans typically have taller, wider windows, mainly due to their large size when compared to an everyday car. But during the summer, UV rays from the sun can penetrate through the glass, leaving van drivers with potentially damaging sun exposure.
Dr Ed says:
“Windscreens usually block most UVB and a large proportion of UVA because they’re laminated, but side windows are more prone to letting in UV rays.
“UVB is the wavelength most associated with sunburn, but UVA penetrates more deeply into the skin and is strongly linked with pigmentation, premature ageing, collagen breakdown and skin cancer risk. So, you may not burn through a closed side window, but your skin can still be accumulating UVA damage.”
What is ‘white van tan’?
Van drivers can spend much of their working day with the right side of their body directly exposed to sunlight – particularly when driving with the window open in warm weather – putting them at risk of ‘white van tan’.
Dr Ed:
“’White van tan’ is essentially chronic, uneven UV exposure. From a skin health perspective, it means one side of the body, often the right arm, right side of the face, neck and hand in UK drivers, is repeatedly exposed to sunlight day after day.
“It may look like a harmless occupational tan, but medically, it’s a red flag that the skin is receiving repeated ultraviolet injury. Over time, that can show up as pigmentation, rough texture, redness, broken capillaries, solar lentigines, actinic keratoses (rough, scaly patches or bumps on the skin) and accelerated collagen loss.”
And this problem may be more common than you think, as MoneySuperMarket surveyed 1,000 UK van drivers about their habits in warm weather, finding that 63% regularly drive with their windows down, putting them at risk of this kind of sun damage.
How much sunlight are van drivers typically exposed to in the summertime?
In the UK, those driving vans (under 3.5 tonnes) must follow domestic driving rules, so are restricted to a maximum of 10 hours of driving and 11 hours of on-duty time on any working day.
During the UK summertime, the UV index would typically be around five to six (medium to high), with a maximum of eight (very high) in some circumstances*, meaning van drivers working long hours on summer days could potentially be at risk of UV damage.
The importance of using sunscreen when driving
MoneySuperMarket’s research also reveals that while 63% of van drivers are aware that UV rays can penetrate glass in their van, almost half (44%) don’t apply any SPF (sun protection factor) before driving.
Damage from the sun is often visible but can build up and worsen over time. Dr Ed Robinson shares his advice on what drivers should do, and the side effects to look out for before getting checked by a professional:
“For someone spending hours behind the wheel on a daily basis, I’d recommend a broad-spectrum SPF 50 applied every morning to the face, neck, ears, hands and arms.
“You should reapply every two hours if the windows are down, if you’re sweating, if you’re getting in and out of the vehicle or if the arm is exposed directly to sunlight. A stick or spray SPF is useful for topping up the backs of the hands and arms, but it shouldn’t replace a proper morning application.”
What are the symptoms of UV damage?
To help van drivers understand the risks of UV damage when driving in hot weather, Dr Ed shares some of the key side effects and symptoms you should look out for, including:
• Newly developed moles
• Moles that change in size, shape or colour
vLesions that bleed, crust or show no signs of healing
• Persistent rough or ‘scaly’ patches on the skin
• New pink or pearly bumps or areas of pigmentation that look irregular
He adds:
“Anything changing, bleeding, non-healing or noticeably different from the surrounding skin should be checked by a medical professional.”
