Does UV Come Through Your Car Windshield? (Tested)
Your commute may be quietly aging one side of your face.
Laminated windshields block most UVA, but standard side and rear car windows transmit a large share of UVA, which penetrates deep enough to drive wrinkles and pigmentation.
Dermatologists point to 'trucker tan' cases — pronounced photoaging on the window-side of the face — as visible proof that everyday driving exposure adds up.
Questions we get a lot
Does UV come through car windows?
Partly. A car's laminated windshield blocks most UVA, but the side and rear windows are usually plain tempered glass that lets a large share of UVA through. That's why long-term drivers can develop more sun damage on the window-facing side of the face and arm.
What is photoaging and how does driving contribute?
Photoaging is skin aging caused by ultraviolet exposure rather than time. UVA penetrates deep, breaking down collagen and elastin and triggering dark spots. Because side windows transmit UVA, the cumulative exposure during commutes shows up as wrinkles and pigmentation, often more on the driver's window side.
Does window film or sunscreen protect me while driving?
Both help. UV-blocking window film can cut most UVA coming through side glass without darkening the window much, and daily broad-spectrum sunscreen on the face, neck and arms covers what the glass doesn't. For frequent drivers, combining the two gives the most reliable protection.
r/SkincareScience: 'Do I really need sunscreen if I'm just commuting in my car?'