A man from Britain learned a valuable lesson about the importance of Sun protection after spending significant time outdoors without it.
Steve, who is 56 and works as a truck driver in Yorkshire, UK, came to understand the necessity of proper skincare following a visit to an aesthetic specialist.
Throughout his life, Steve had never used sunscreen or moisturized his skin. His job as a driver for 30 years also meant he was frequently exposed to the Sun’s UV rays without any protection.
Over time, the impact of his career became obvious, as one side of his face appeared to age more than the other.
In an interview with the Mirror, Steve mentioned: “For the last four or five years I was noticing deep lines and wrinkles on the right side of my face. I used to look in the mirror and pull the skin around my eye back and think to myself, ‘I’m getting old’.”
Steve’s routine involved spending six days a week driving, with the Sun primarily affecting the right side of his face.
He noted, “To be honest, I thought it was part and parcel of ageing and I never thought about having any treatments, until I remembered a newspaper picture and story featuring a UV photo of a lorry driver’s face showing the really bad Sun damage just on his right side.”
He realized, “That’s when it clicked with me… My lines and wrinkles were also likely caused by Sun damage.”
Despite suspecting Sun damage, Steve did not start using SPF until he consulted with Dr. Hannah Higgins, an aesthetic doctor and clinical director at The Wellness Space in Barnsley.
Steve recounted, “She told me the Sun had not only damaged the surface of my skin, but the deeper layers too, which had caused the right side of my face to sink a little bit.”
Dr. Higgins also diagnosed Steve with a skin condition known as rosacea, which contributed to his facial redness.
To address the issue, his doctor prescribed a medical-grade skincare routine along with a daily application of 50 SPF before proceeding with treatments to even out his facial features.
Dr. Higgins explained, “I’ve seen female patients with asymmetrical lines before, often caused by simple things, such as always sleeping on one side of their face, which can cause more advanced ageing.”
She added, “However, the asymmetry caused by the Sun damage to Steve’s face was more marked than anything I’d previously seen.”
Dr. Higgins noted that Steve’s entire face exhibited signs of UV damage, including redness, erythema (reddening), age spots, pigmentation, and excess oil on the skin surface.
By adhering to the skincare routine recommended by Dr. Higgins, Steve was able to receive dermal filler treatment to minimize the appearance of his wrinkles.
Steve now advises, “I’d tell everyone to use sunscreen whether they are in a lorry cab or outside.”