How to protect yourself from skin cancer as a truck driver

As a professional truck driver, your daily routine often includes long hours on the road, exposing you to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. While you may feel protected inside your vehicle, the reality is that UVA rays (which penetrate deeper into the skin) can pass through glass windows, causing skin damage over time.

An example of this is Bill McElligott, a truck driver who had severe sun damage on one side of his face. This condition, known as unilateral dermatophilosis, resulted in deep wrinkles and skin thickening, emphasizing the dangers of chronic UV exposure.

Recent studies have shown that truck drivers are at a higher risk of skin cancer due to extended sun exposure. Research indicates that UV exposure on the left arm is five times greater than on the right for truck drivers, and exposure on the left side of the face is significantly higher, leading to increased risk of skin damage and cancer.

Fortunately, there are a few proactive steps you can take to protect yourself on the road, so you can keep driving strong without letting sun damage take the wheel.

Understanding the power of the sun

While many believe the sun can only be harmful when there is warm weather, UV damage can occur year-round. Snow even makes the UV rays more intense because it reflects sunlight.

So why is all of this important to you as a truck driver? While you may not care much about wrinkles like Bill McElligott’s, you should care about the risk of skin cancer, as the same UV rays that cause wrinkles also cause cancer.

Currently, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and the risk is even higher in jobs where you’re regularly exposed to sunlight, according to SCF. As a driver, you fall into the category of high sun exposure and need to be vigilant about sun protection.

Thankfully, skin cancer is treatable if caught early, but prevention is critical to help avoid risk. You should be visiting a doctor semi-annually to get checked for skin cancer, as well as performing monthly self-exams.

How to Protect Yourself

There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from UV radiation while on the road:

• Wear sunscreen every single day: Even on cloudy or snowy days, it’s essential to protect your skin. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher on all exposed areas, including your face, neck, arms and hands—paying extra attention to the left side of your body, which gets the most sun exposure while driving. Reapply every two hours or after sweating and choose a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, since UVA rays can be more harmful.
  

• Cover Up: Weather permitting, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to shield your skin from harmful rays. Certain fabrics won’t fully protect you from sun exposure, but sunscreen should still be applied to exposed areas for full coverage. Choose tightly woven fabrics for better protection.

• Use Protective Accessories: Hats, such as wide-brimmed styles, can protect your face, neck and head. The sun can also cause damage to your eyes and even cause cancer. As a driver, your eyes are your most important asset, so safeguard them with sunglasses that provide UV blocking protection.

• Schedule those Regular Skin Checks: Perform monthly self-exams to check for unusual moles or skin changes and visit a dermatologist at least twice a year to catch any potential issues early.

By implementing these simple protective measures, you can continue your profession while safeguarding your health against skin cancer.