Bill McElligott, Delivery Truck Driver, Has Severe Sun Damage On One Side Of His Face

by Muskoka Posted 2012/06/23 03:44:53

Related Topics: Cancer, Car, Canada, Health, 21, Working, Entertainment, Older, Clothing, Treatment, American, 2012

Read all 1 opinions

This man's face is possibly the most compelling argument for wearing sunscreen. Every day, all day, and lots of it.

Truck driver Bill McElligott, 69, has unilateral dermatoheliosis, according to The New England Journal of Medicine.
Essentially, ultraviolet A (UVA) rays transmitted through the window of
his delivery truck have severely damaged the skin on the left side of
his face during the 28 years he has spent driving on the job.

As a result, the left side of McElligott's face looks roughly 20 years older than the right, the Toronto Star reports. The difference between the two sides of his face is so pronounced, even medical experts were shocked.

We are used to seeing photo damage by the sun, photo aging, every day, but I was taken aback when I saw how one-sided this was,'' said Dr. Jennifer Gordon, a dermatology expert who treated McElligott, in The Daily Telegraph.

Driving has been linked to an increased risk of skin cancer due to
sun exposure through the windows, which do not filter UVA rays. A study
in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology concluded more cases involved the left arm and left side of the face, according to the CBC.

McElligott's photo surfaces as Sun Awareness Week heats up in Canada, throwing the spotlight on the dangers of UV damage and indoor tanning,
particularly for minors. The Canadian Dermatology Association estimates
5,800 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed this year, causing 970
deaths, the CBC says.

The doctor's orders for McElligott? Sun protection, topical retinoids, and skin cancer monitoring. Car windows can also be tinted to protect against harmful UV rays.

"Wear sunscreen constantly," says Christine Janus, executive director of
the Canadian Skin Patient Alliance (CSPA), an organization that
provides support for those with skin conditions. Janus recommends
wearing about three quarters of a shot glass full or as much as you need
to cover exposed skin. She also says we should reapply the lotion every
four to six hours if you're going in the water or working out.

Don't Take Risks -- With Your Skin

"If your skin looks or feels different, rough like sandpaper for
example, get it checked -- don't wait," Janus says. Treatments for skin
cancers exist, but the the more you expose your skin, the higher your
risks are, she says.

Limit Exposure

"Limit your time outdoors and during peak hours when the sun is up," Janus says.

Make sure when you're outside you wear a hat. "Men should be wearing hat
as well. The top spots for skin cancer for men is on their head and
back," Janus says.

Try UV Clothing Or Umbrellas

Ultraviolet clothing is also another level of protection, Janus says.
There are now companies that manufacture specialized items that have a
built-in UV layer. She also recomme