Why You Should Never Skip Sunscreen Before a Flight
We all know that a moisturising facial mist and drinking lots of water are skincare musts when braving a long-haul flight, but have you ever considered wearing a sunscreen while you fly? As it turns out, applying SPF before boarding your flight could be an even bigger travel beauty hack than taking your own sheet masks on-board!
Don’t believe us? A 2015 study published in JAMA Dermatology found that pilots who flew for just under an hour at 30,000 received the same amount of radiation as a 20-minute session on a sunbed. Eeep!
Ok, so you’re not an airline pilot, but passengers are at risk too, especially if you’re sitting in a window seat while you fly. Passengers seated near the window could experience a similar amount of exposure as pilots because UVA rays from the sun (the harmful little buggers your Dermatologist told you about) aren’t blocked by plane windows. What’s more, if you fly over clouds or snow, more light is reflected into the aircraft, which could worsen the effects.
UVA rays are responsible for causing wrinkles, premature ageing, and even damage to the cells in the deepest layers of the skin, which can even cause skin cancer if you’re a frequent flyer and a fan of the window seat.
Sure, you could just fly with the window blind down for the entire flight, but if you’re a fan of sunshine and daylight then it’s best to apply a good facial sun cream 30 minutes before your flight. This will ensure that you’re protected from both UVA and UVB rays, preventing sun damage while you fly.
Want more health and beauty news? Check out our Beauty section for more exciting reading!