Here’s Why You Should Always Put on Sunscreen Before Flying on a Plane

There are many potential health dangers of flying that are rarely talked about, from dehydration and hearing loss to deep vein thrombosis.

But have you ever stopped to consider that you may need a generous dose of sunscreen for your next flight?

While tens of thousands of feet up in the air, passengers are more prone to being affected by UV rays as they are closer to the sun.

In fact, a study by medical journal JAMA Dermatology revealed that an hour at 30,000 feet exposes a person to the same amount of radiation as 20 minutes spent at a tanning bed. This is especially so for pilots and less so for passengers who are able to simply roll down their window shades.

Still, if you’re the type who loves the window seat, do consider slapping on that sunscreen!

The sun emits two types of harmful rays: long wave ultraviolet A (UVA) and short wave ultraviolet B (UVB), and most plane windows can only block out the latter.

UVA rays can penetrate the skin deeply and cause problems such as premature skin ageing, wrinkling and even skin cancer.

Also, take note that UV radiation reflection is amplified when flying over snow or thick clouds.

Dear travellers, you have been advised.