By now we all know how important it is to wear sunscreen anytime we’re going to be outside, but to really protect our skin, we need to be wearing it on airplanes too. Dermatologists recommend applying a 30 SPF sunscreen when flying, just like when we’re out in the sun.
Those windows on an airplane are tiny, but it’s still really bright when we fly. And we’re closer to the ozone layer up there, so the sun’s rays are much more harmful, British dermatologist Dr. Sweta Rai explains. So to protect against skin cancer and to prevent the signs of again, wearing sunscreen on a flight is essential.
“Pilots are at higher risk of skin cancer and sun-induced damage as they sit in bright light,” Dr. Rai says. “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.”
And putting it on once before your flight isn’t enough, reapply every two hours, just like when you’re outside. Because the last thing you need is to get sunburned while flying to your tropical island vacation.
Source: New York Post