Shocking Proof That The Sun Makes You Age Prematurely

What’s worse than getting old and wrinkly? Getting old and wrinkly on one side. Yes, as bad and made up as it sounds, this is an actual condition!

“Dermatoheliosis” is a Greek term for photoaging. This condition was first studied by Jennifer R.S. Gordon and Joaquin C. Brieva, dermatologists at Northwestern University, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The 69-year-old in the picture was the subject of the study when his peculiar case of 25 years of gradual one-sided facial aging gained medical attention. He worked as a truck driver all his life, and his face was mostly exposed to sunlight on the left side. The effects of UVA and UVB rays led to the destruction of elastic fibers. Hence, the wrinkles. The next time you forget buying sunscreen, do yourself a favor and take an extra trip to the drug store.

Since UVB and UVA rays can cause DNA mutations and lead to skin cancer, the doctors recommended their patient to use sun protection and topical retinoids, as well as periodic monitoring for the apparition of skin cancer.

This is a perfect reminder of the negative effects of excessive suntanning. Other than the risk of skin cancer, perhaps knowing that the sun will accelerate your aging by a decade or two will stop you from being careless. Remember, if you are going to be exposed to the sun in any way, even if you are not at the beach or a swimming pool, use sun protection without fail.

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