Sunshine causes wrinkles ‘even through a window’

LONDON - Previous research has shown that basking in direct sunlight and shunning the sunscreen leads to wrinkles, but for those who thought their skin was safe while driving or sitting in a conservatory, here’s an eye-opener.

A study by a team of University College Hospital, Besancon, in France has revealed that the damage caused by sun coming through glass can be so dramatic that, over time, the side of the face exposed to the rays can end up looking up to seven years older than the other. few hours sitting in a car during April results in skin damage, and even during autumn months the damage is far worse than previously realised, it has been found.

Glass does block out the sun’s UVB rays, but about 50 per cent of UVA rays, associated with burning and ageing, do get through.he team demonstrated that a woman office worker or regular driver will age more quickly on the side where the skin faces the sun and heat - even through glass.

“Participants showed significantly more clinical signs of facial ageing on one side of their face due to driving or working close to windows over many years,” the Daily Mail quoted researchers as saying.

Another study, by skin experts at Boots, found even a few hours sitting in a car in April resulted in skin damage linked to ageing.

Trevor McMillan and Sarah Allinson of the Lancaster University have shown that low dose UVA, equivalent to a British autumn day, causes up to a 50-fold increase in the expression of certain genes involved in photoageing - premature ageing of the skin from exposure to UV radiation.

Professor John Hawk, an Emeritus Professor of dermatological photobiology and UVA expert, said: “We believe up to 90 per cent of the visible signs of ageing are due to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation and more than 95 per cent of these are known to be UVA rays.

“What’s needed is a step-change in awareness of the damaging effects all year round, not just during summer holiday season.” (ANI)