Q: When you’re driving and the sun beats down on you through the window are you still being exposed to UV rays and can you still get sunburned?
A: If you’ve ever driven down the highway for long periods of time, you may have gotten what’s colloquially known as “trucker’s arm,” an uneven tan along the arm most exposed to sunlight during your trek. However, if you’ve paid close attention, you may have also noticed that you didn’t get burned.
That’s because auto glass filters out UVB rays, one of two types of ultraviolet light and the one that is most likely to cause the skin to burn, said Gilroy and Hollister Dermatologist Dr. Leon Lubianker.
Even so, you should still take precautions like wearing sunscreen in the car, said Lubianker. The reason you’ve developed a tan is that auto glass cannot filter out UVA light, the same spectrum used in tanning booths, and UVA can still damage human skin, promoting aging and skin cancer.
“Most sunscreens today are full-spectrum, meaning they block out both UVA and UVB rays, but you should just make sure by checking their label,” said Lubianker.
– By Melania Zaharopoulos, Staff Writer
