Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S., and the American Academy of Dermatology says that exposure to UV light increases the risk for every type of skin cancer. Staying in the shade is a great solution for this, and your car would offer protection if not for its windows, which let in UV light from the sun. This may be bad news for people who spend a long time driving, but fortunately, there’s something they can do about it because car window tinting can block 99% of harmful UV rays.
You may not always remember to apply sunscreen with an SPF value of at least 30 or carry one with you any time you go out in the sun. The next best thing you can do if you’re driving around is getting auto glass tinting installed. While the windshield is treated to block the two types of UV light, namely UVA and UVB, the other windows aren’t and so it would be a good idea to install car window tinting.
Factors Affecting UV Exposure
Apart from wearing sunscreen, some other factors that affect the strength of the UV rays from the sun include:
- The time of day, with UV rays being strongest at midday.
- The season, as UV rays are stronger during summer and spring than in other seasons.
- Altitude, with higher places receiving stronger UV rays as they’re technically closer to the sun.
- Cloud cover; fewer UV rays reaches the ground when it’s overcast, although this varies.
- Distance from the equator, with UV exposure going down the further you get from the equator.
- Reflection off of surfaces like snow, sand, water, or even the pavement you’re walking on, effectively giving you a kind of double-exposure.
If you drive for long hours, car window tinting is the best protection you can get for yourself as it will decrease exposure to dangerous UV rays. The connection was made by medical researchers who noticed that when skin cancer occurred on only one side of the body, it was on the left side, and especially the upper arms.
Prolonged sun exposure also increases the signs of aging like wrinkles, dry skin, sagging, and age spots. You may also get sunburn and hives, all of which can be avoided by car window tinting. It is a simple solution to an array of complications, so think about installing a tint on your car windows to keep you and the occupants of your car safe.
