Truck Driver Who Never Used Sunscreen Reveals Dramatic Difference On One Side Of His Face

A British man learned a tough lesson about the importance of sun protection after spending years exposed to harmful UV rays without any precautions.

Steve, a 56-year-old truck driver from Yorkshire, UK, didn’t pay much attention to skincare until a visit to an aesthetic doctor opened his eyes to the lasting impact of sun damage.

For his entire life, Steve had never used sunscreen or even bothered with moisturizer. To make matters worse, his 30-year career as a truck driver meant he was constantly exposed to sunlight through the driver’s side window, leaving half of his face vulnerable to the sun’s rays.

Decades on the road eventually left a noticeable mark, with one side of his face showing far more aging than the other.

Speaking to the Mirror, Steve said: "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'."

His job kept him on the road six days a week, with the sun hitting the right side of his face consistently over the years.

Sun had hit the right side of his face for 30 years Positive Communications

"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 continued.

"That's when it clicked with me... My lines and wrinkles were also likely caused by Sun damage."

Although he realized that the sun might be responsible for the uneven aging, Steve didn’t take any action to protect his skin until he met Dr. Hannah Higgins, an aesthetic doctor and clinical director at The Wellness Space in Barnsley.

He said: "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."

"She also said I had a skin condition called rosacea, which was making my face a bit red."

Dr. Higgins prescribed Steve a medical-grade skincare routine and instructed him to start using a daily SPF 50 sunscreen before she could proceed with treatments to restore balance to his face.

Steve's attitude towards sunscreen has certainly changed Positive Communications

"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," Dr. Higgins explained.

"However, the asymmetry caused by the Sun damage to Steve's face was more marked than anything I'd previously seen."

"His entire face showed signs of UV damage; there was redness, erythema (reddening), age spots and pigmentation, plus more oil resting on the surface of the skin than I'd normally expect."

After sticking to the prescribed skincare routine, Steve was finally able to undergo a dermal filler treatment to smooth out the wrinkles and restore a more balanced appearance.

"Now, I'd tell everyone to use sunscreen whether they are in a lorry cab or outside," Steve said.