Skin aging: These viral photos show the dangers of unprotected sun exposure

It only took one shot to wreak havoc on the Twitter world. Nothing provocative or entertaining, just a photo of a 92-year-old woman who’s been applying sunscreen to her face, but not her neck, for 40 years. The result was astonishing, to the point of convincing tens of thousands of users to adopt the right measures in the face of the dangers of the sun’s rays.

After the summer period, which requires special attention, it is advisable to stay alert all year round to being exposed to the sun. This is even more true if you work outdoors, have children who are likely to increase outdoor activities, or have a low light pattern consistent with very white skin, blonde or red hair, and light eyes.

Big excitement on Twitter

This is what just showed a snapshot posted on social networks by a dermatologist from New York State, Dr. Avi Peterman. We can see the face and neck of a 92-year-old woman, the same health professional explains. A priori, it is not enough to create an event on a social network. Originally from Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereologywhich he uses as an example to illustrate a report titled “The Search for Aging: Rethinking Primary Skin Cancer Prevention,” the photo actually depicts sun damage over four decades.

As the dermatologist notes on his Twitter account, the woman in question has used “UV protection creams on her face, but not on her neck, for over 40 years.” The result is final. In contrast to the skin of the face, the skin of the neck of this unknown patient is covered with spots, and wrinkles are much more than that of the cheeks and cheekbones. A cliché that says a lot about the importance of protecting yourself from sun exposure.

Feedback was immediate. Surprised, if not shocked, Twitter users have in turn communicated about the consequences of not complying with the rules of protection in relation to sun exposure. Within days, the post garnered more than 240,000 likes, and retweeted more than 30,000 times.

The dermatologist has since posted or reposted other images of the same kind to warn of more sun exposure risks. In particular, we can detect the arms and thighs of a man who “worked 50 years in the sun but [n’a] never gone[é] A house without pants,” is absolutely stunning.

According to French Public Health, 80,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in France. While it is important to protect yourself from the sun by taking your phototype into account, such as sunshine conditions, it is also a good idea to limit exposure, and cover yourself with appropriate clothing.