Doctor points stark warning after 87-year-old grandma reveals off her shockingly youthful pores and skin: ‘I wanted to see this’

A US emergency room doctor has delivered a stark reminder about the true cause of ageing skin.

It comes after he reshared a video of an 87-year-old grandmother whose remarkably youthful appearance has stunned millions online.

Dr Joe Whittington reposted the TikTok clip to challenge the long-held belief that wrinkles are simply down to age or genetics, insisting instead that sun exposure is the single biggest factor in how skin ages over time.

In the clip, Dr Joe points to the woman’s smooth shoulder and upper body, explaining that the secret to her youthful skin isn’t expensive skincare or cosmetic treatments.

‘She didn’t lay in the sun and it’s perfect.’

According to the medic, decades of ultraviolet exposure permanently changes the skin’s structure.

‘UV radiation damages DNA, breaks down collagen and elastin, and over decades your skin loses its structural integrity,’ he explained, adding that the effects accumulate slowly – often unnoticed – until the damage is irreversible.

To illustrate the point, he referenced several real-world examples commonly used in medicine.

A US emergency room doctor has delivered a stark reminder about the true cause of ageing skin. It comes after he reshared a video of an 87-year-old grandmother whose remarkably youthful appearance has stunned millions online (pictured)

Dr Joe Whittington (pictured) reposted the clip to challenge the long-held belief that wrinkles are simply down to age or genetics, insisting instead that sun exposure is the single biggest factor in how skin ages over time

One is the now-famous image of a 69-year-old truck driver, whose left side of his face aged far more rapidly after sitting next to a sun-exposed window for more than 25 years.

‘The difference between the two sides is obvious,’ he said.

Another example showed a farmer who worked outdoors for more than 70 years, consistently wearing long pants but short sleeves.

‘The difference in skin texture between his arms and legs is astonishing,’ he explained, highlighting just how dramatically sun exposure can age uncovered skin compared to areas protected by clothing.

Despite the booming anti-ageing industry, the doctor says prevention doesn’t require an elaborate routine.

‘Shade, clothing and sunscreen will do far more than most skincare routines.’

He also addressed growing fears around sunscreen ingredients, reassuring those concerned about so-called ‘toxic’ formulas.

‘For the ‘I don’t trust toxic sunscreen’ crowd, mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sit on the surface of the skin and block UV rays – they’re not absorbed into the skin like chemical sunscreens.’

Dr Joe addressed fears around ‘toxic’ sunscreen, explaining that mineral formulas with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sit on the skin’s surface to block UV rays, rather than being absorbed 

 While mineral sunscreen may leave a pale cast, Dr Joe said it’s a small price to pay.

‘You may look a little ghostly, but I promise you, pale shoulders age much better than leathery ones.’

‘Take it from me, I avoid the sun like the plague.’

The video has sparked renewed debate online about tanning culture and skincare myths, with many viewers admitting the stark comparisons were enough to make them rethink their relationship with the sun.

‘This is such a good reminder,’ one wrote.

‘I used to lay in the sun on the roof – you can only imagine how fricken good I look now,’ another commented.

‘I looked like I was 15 until my late 40’s and I was a sun worshiper. My daughter is the same; 30 but looks 12,’ a follower said.

Dr Joe makes it clear: the most effective anti-ageing strategy has never been glamorous, but consistency is key.