As the summer has come to an end, many people will think it's time to put the sun cream away for another year.
But an image of a 92-year-old woman's neck may make you think twice before doing so - and shows what more than 40 years of sun damage can do to your skin.
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The image of the unnamed woman who regularly applied sun cream to her face but not her neck for more than four decades was published online, report the Record.
While her face appears noticeably unblemished and taut, her damaged neck is covered in sun spots and wrinkles.
The photo, which was published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, serves as proof of the importance of UV protection.
Dermatologist and journal author Dr Chritsian Posch of the Technical University of Munich said that the image clearly shows that "preventing the negative effects of UV-radiation is both important and actionable".
He said: "Clinical examination reveals a striking difference in solar damage between her cheek and neck."
While wrinkles and pigmentation are just a part of getting older, it is a process known as photoaging which is the main culprit of these changes.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, photoaging is a a direct result of cumulative sun damage you’ve been exposed to throughout your life. It accounts for 90 per cent of visible changes to the skin.
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Chronic exposure to UV light penetrates the first two layers of skin, known as the epidermis and the dermis. This damages the skin cells' DNA.
The NHS recommends that Brits wear an SPF of at least factor 30 for protection against the sun. It also advises to check that it is hasn't passed its best before date before applying.
Regular users of sun cream with SPF 15 or higher can greatly cut their chances of getting melanoma in half. According to Cancer Research UK, melanoma kills 2,300 Brits each year.
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