THE face of an elderly truck driver shows how the sun's powerful and dangerous UV rays can slowly destroy the fabric of the skin.

Published by the New England Journal of Medicine, the picture features a 69-year-old man who has spent nearly three decades on the road.

The left side of the driver's face is visibly more damaged than the right

And the left of the man’s face, the side has been exposed to UV rays through his window, is visibly more damaged than the right side which is relatively smooth by comparison.

According to the study, the left side shows signs “consistent with the Favre-Racouchot syndrome of photodamaged skin, known as dermatoheliosis.”

The skin on the damaged side of his face is thicker a process known as unilateral dermatoheliosis.

UV rays destroy the skin’s elastic fibres which causes the driver’s deep wrinkles.

The UV rays destroy the skin's fibre causing deep wrinkles

The man, who has spent 28 years as a truck driver, has been told to start using sun cream

The rays, which can penetrate through glass windows and clouds, also cause skin cancer by breaking down DNA and directing toxicity.

The unnamed truck driver has been told to start using topical retinoids and sunscreen while also going for regular skin cancer check ups.

Earlier this week, dermatologists advised that flight passengers should wear factor 30 sun cream while on board a plane.

Though the windows on a plane are small, it’s very bright when you’re flying.

Dr Sweta Rai of the British Association of Dermatologists tells Sun Online Travel: “Pilots are at higher risk of skin cancer and sun-induced damage as they sit in bright light.

“The windows they sit at when piloting the plane are huge and as a result they wear sunscreen as standard.

“But passengers on flights should take heed and do the same.

“The window next to your on a plane may be small, but you’re closer to the ozone layer on a flight by tens of thousands of feet.

“The sun’s rays are much more harmful at this level and we should all be wearing sun scream when flying.”

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