Hurricane Matthew Leaves Tint Shops Devastated

October 18th, 2016 by Katherine Coig

Although the peak of Hurricane Matthew has passed, much of the East Coast has been left in shambles from Georgia to the Carolinas. Damage from the storm is still being assessed, though most tint shops in those areas don’t qualify for flood insurance. And many owners are left unsure of where the future of their shop is headed.

Inside Ronnie’s Tint and Auto in Lumberton, N.C., following Hurricane Matthew.

The Category 5 hurricane is the first to hit the East Coast since Felix in 2007, and has caused at least 43 deaths in the United States—over half that number comes from North Carolina alone.

So far, there’s been little improvement on getting back to work, let alone getting into their shops to see all of the damage.

Ronnie’s Tint and Audio in Lumberton, N.C., is one of the many local tint shops that’s lost almost everything. Ronnie Locklear, owner, explained that he hasn’t been able to go in and assess all of the damage yet, but knows the outlook is bleak.

“I haven’t been able to go in and look at everything yet, I’ve been trying to help with the community,” he says, “but I lost a good bit, or all, of my tint. My plotter is gone, too.”

His shop sustained quite a bit of damage—the roof caved in, which allowed the water to pour in and soak all of his tint and audio equipment. He also estimated that his shop had at least two and a half feet of water. Either way Locklear looks at it, he has to rebuild or move to a new shop, both of which are costly expenses. He explained that Lumberton isn’t considered to be a flood-zone, which are designated by FEMA, so it can be costly to get flood insurance in the area.

“I’m going to try and rebuild,” he says. “SunTek’s offered to help me get back on my feet. It surprised me, but it was very nice of them to call and check in on me and see what they could do to help.”

Despite his own losses, Locklear seems to be more worried about how his community is holding up since nearly 2000 people in his town lost their homes and are living in schools and shelters, he explained.

“People have lived in these houses for generations—to see all the stuff damaged, gone,” he says, “it’s one of the most disturbing things that I’ve seen.”

Locklear is hoping to be back at work soon, “We hope to know by today where we’ll be working from, temporarily, while the shop is repaired,” he says.

Sun Hazard in your Car

Watch Out for Skin Cancers and Photoaging on the Left Side of Your Body 

by Susan T. Butler MD

When thinking about sun exposure, you might envision yourself on the beach or exercising outdoors. But millions of Americans receive a large portion of their sun exposure when they don’t even realize it — in their cars.

For years, dermatologists have observed that patients in the US often have more sun damage (which can lead to wrinkles, leathering, sagging, brown “age” spots and even skin cancers) on the left side of their faces than on the right. Why? Research increasingly points to ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation penetrating through car windows.

UV radiation from the sun, associated with about 90 percent of all skin cancers, reaches the earth as long- wavelength UVA and shortwave UV B rays. glass effectively blocks UVB, and windshields are specially treated to block UVA as well, but a car’s side and rear windows allow UVA to penetrate.

UV exposure is cumulative, and research has proven that skin exposed to sun shining through window glass, even in the office, can over time lead to significant skin damage.1,2 The UV exposure we receive driving a car especially adds up. In a US study by Singer, et al, the researchers found asymmetric photodamage (sun- induced skin damage) on the face, with more brown pigment (color) and deeper wrinkles on the left.3 The more time subjects spent driving a vehicle, the more severe their photodamage on the left side. Reinforcing this research, in countries where the driver’s side is the right side, people tend to develop more sun damage and skin precancers on the right.4 Certain precancers can turn into squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer. 

Recently, a study by Butler and Fosko5 showed that the majority of skin cancers in the US develop on the left side of people’s bodies and faces. This finding is especially pronounced in men, who more consistently spend time driving cars over a lifetime. While younger women have more left-side than right-side skin cancers, at age 50 this trend in them reverses, and right-side skin cancers predominate until age 80. Though we can only speculate, the shift seen around age 50 may indicate that younger women spend more time as car drivers, receiving more exposure on the left side of their bodies, while older women may more often be passengers, thus sustaining more right-side sun damage. However, the number of vehicles per household has nearly doubled in the last 25 years, making it more likely that women today will spend more time as drivers rather than passengers.6

Previous observational studies have shown an increased risk of melanoma in patients receiving large doses of UVA from tanning beds.7,8 Butler, et al5 also found that melanomas in-situ (early, noninvasive melanomas that have not spread from their original tumor sites) were more common on the more UVA-exposed left side of the body. Our observations suggest that UVA exposure over the years may indeed play an important role in the development of this potentially dangerous skin cancer. (Melanoma is linked with intense, intermittent UV exposure; its association with cumulative UV exposure has been unclear.)

In the US, the left side of the head, neck, arm and hand receive up to six times the dose of UV radiation as the right side in those sitting on the left side of the car.9Convertibles and sun-roofs allow even more UV exposure, so extra attention to sun protection must be paid if this type of car is driven. 

There are several ways to protect yourself in a car. The first is to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher to your face, arms, neck and hands, about half an hour before you go driving. [The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using about an ounce over the entire body, including a teaspoonful on the face.] Because UVA passes through the window glass, make sure your sunscreen contains some combination of UVA-shielding ingredients such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, stabilized avobenzone, and ecamsule (MexorylTM). Be sure to reapply after two hours, or after sweating heavily.

Protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, UV-blocking sunglasses, and hats with a brim of at least 3 inches all around also help shield against the sun’s radiation. Hats are particularly important for men who have thinning hair and are at risk for developing skin cancer on top of their heads.

Another sun safety strategy in the car is tinting or laminating (applying UV-protective film to) the window glass. Window tinting is regulated in many states, so be sure to check the laws, but clear window film is available throughout the country. One study noted a 93 percent reduction in skin cell death when UV exposure was filtered through UV-absorbing auto glass.10 Some films, when applied to car windows, can block 99.9 percent of UV rays.

Following all these precautions will help you stay sun-safe both on the road and once you reach your destination.

View UV Film Products that Have Earned The Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation

http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/are-you-at-risk/sun-hazards-in-your-car

Dr. Butler is a dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs micrographic surgeon. She is in private practice at the California Skin Institute in San Mateo, CA. 

Published on May 21, 2013

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