Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Drivers advised to protect against sun

Updated at 9:22 pm on 19 January 2010

The Cancer Society suggests people who drive a lot during summer should wear sunscreen and gloves to protect them from melanoma.

Skin cancer advisor Judith Galtry says car windows cut out UVR and UVA rays to some degree, but not sufficiently to protect against sun damage.

Dr Galtry advises people to wear long-sleeved shirts and sunscreen when they drive. She says those who drive for a living or spend long periods in the car in summer should have extra protection for their hands as well.

Dr Galtry says the side windows of cars cut out most of the UVR rays, which cause skin to burn, but only 37% of UVA rays, which are increasingly implicated in the development of melanoma.

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