Skin Care For When You’re In The Air

Summer is prime traveling season. That means planning the trips, packing suitcases, and sorting your schedule out. First Derm understands that the last thing you want to worry about is how your skin is going to handle long, exhausting flights. Here’s how you can maintain healthy skin thousands of miles up in the sky.

Ask a dermatologist today!

 

What Airplanes Do To Your Skin

Airplane cabins are incredibly cold and dry environments that throw off your body’s hydration. Operating in high altitudes, airplane cabins severely lack humidity and thus rob your skin of its moisture.

In addition, the higher the altitude, the less blood is flowing to your skin. And the lack of blood circulation contributes to a tired, flushed out appearance.

Being physically closer to the sun also makes your skin prone to sun-damage and skin cancer. According to a study published by JAMA Dermatology, pilots and cabin crew members report twice as many cases of melanoma than the general public. If you’re a frequent flyer, you may be at risk as well because the UV rays can penetrate through airplane windows.

 

 

To examine a mole or any other skin concern, ask a dermatologist today!

3 Ways To Maintain Healthy Skin in the Cabin

1. Stick To What You Know
It’s tempting to pack travel sizes and samples of new products, but you should stick to your regular skincare routine. Traveling exposes your skin to new and different environments, which can be quite stressful to your skin. Playing around with skincare may add to that stress.

2. Keep Your Base Clean
The quality of water in airplane lavatories is a topic up for debate, but it’s better to play it safe and wash your face with bottled water. Be sure not to fall asleep with a full face of makeup, as it can clog your pores and lead to premature aging. To avoid that, remove all of your makeup before the long journey.

 

 

3. Don’t Further Dry Out Your Skin
Skip using products with drying active and inactive ingredients, like retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or alcohol. Drying ingredients alongside the barren atmosphere in the cabin can further dehydrate your skin. Instead, incorporate a sheet mask or a sleeping mask in your routine for a boost of hydration.

4. Protect Your Skin!
Finally, depending on whether you will be exposed to the sun or not, apply sunscreen, as UV rays are the number one cause of photoaging and skin cancer.

 

To learn more about your skin and air travel or to discuss a skin issue contact one of our board-certified dermatologists. Safe travels!