Persuading you to wear sunscreen on your flight: Insights from a Dermatologist

If you typically place your sunscreen in your checked luggage when boarding a plane, it is advisable to keep it accessible during the flight.

Dermatologists have issued a warning that all passengers should wear sunscreen while on a plane.

Dr. Joyce Park, a dermatologist, recommends that all travelers apply SPF protection before flying.

This is because the sun’s intensity increases at higher altitudes, and passengers are closer to the ozone layer.

New York City-based dermatologist Cherise Mizrahi-Levi, in an interview with travel website The Points Guy, explained that plane windows do not block harmful UVA rays.

She explained, “Airplane windows are typically made of polycarbonate plastic or layered composite glass.

While there is a negligible transmission of UVB rays through plastic and glass windshields, UVA transmission through these windows is significant.”

UVB rays can cause sunburn, while UVA rays are associated with skin aging.

Dr. Joyce Park mentioned a 2015 study published in JAMA Dermatology, which examined the risk of skin cancer for pilots and cabin crew.

The study found that pilots flying in a cockpit for about an hour at 30,000 feet are exposed to the same amount of UVA radiation as a 20-minute tanning bed session.

These rays could also be harmful to passengers sitting in a window seat and flight attendants who fly more frequently than the average person.

To minimize their sun exposure, passengers can close the window blind, apply SPF sunscreen, and wear long sleeves.

Dr. Park emphasized, “You should ABSOLUTELY wear sunscreen on airplanes or keep windows shut.”