Why you DON’T need sunscreen on a plane

A while back, I did a post saying we should wear sunscreen on a plane… But since then I’ve been told (not least by many of you) that I’m completely wrong on that, so thank you, I stand corrected. This post is why you DON’T necessarily need to worry about wearing sunscreen when you’re flying.

Why did I think you need sunscreen when you’re flying?

In theory, when you’re so high up, the UVA rays are really strong, and windows don’t stop UVA light… Also, newspaper headlines last year pointed back to a 2015 study,* which looked at whether airline pilots were more at risk of melanoma because of UV exposure in the course of their work. That study said that a 60-minute flight could give these individuals the same UVA exposure as a 20-minute tanning bed session. 😮

But plane windows do block UVA…

…And, that study was looking at pilots in the cockpit, not passengers.

‘UV radiation increases with altitude and while some commercial aircraft windshields let through a small amount of UV, more modern aircraft windshields provide almost a total block.’ That’s what is firmly stated on the Australian Cancer Council website. ‘Windows in the passenger cabin are generally constructed of three layers of plastic. These materials are highly effective at blocking both UVA and UVB, ensuring passengers are not at risk.’

Plus, it depends how you phrase it

Several of you pointed me to a post by Dr Michelle Wong, who you’ll know as Instagram’s @labmuffinbeautyscience. In it, she pointed out that a headline saying: ‘There’s a bit less than twice as much UV in the air than at ground level, but the window blocks most of it,’ was never going to go viral, compared to the traction of one saying ‘The UV [on a plane] is like being in a tanning bed (for a third of the time) (if you’re in the cockpit)’. 🙃

What does a dermatologist say about UVA on planes?

‘The type of glass used in aeroplane windows may differ, but on the whole it is three-layered, filters UVB, and is also good against UVA up to 400nm – though depending on the material used there will be some variation in this,’ says consultant dermatologist Justine Hextall. ‘For pilots, we know there is the increased risk of malignant melanoma, though whether that is because of the flights they are on or the many layovers in hot climates needs further investigation.’

‘From my point of view, it is always important to protect your skin,’ Hextall ultimately continues. ‘If you are light sensitive (say, if you have rosacea), the combination of light and dry air disrupting the skin barrier would make me advise wearing a hydrating SPF on the plane. Likewise if skin pigmentation issues are a problem for you, then definitely protect yourself. If you are a frequent flyer and concerned about photo damage, then again, protect your skin.’

What’s the bottom line?

So if you’re flying, you absolutely don’t need to go overboard and plaster yourself in sunscreen. Though if it’s daytime, I’d be wearing sunscreen anyway, wouldn’t you?

• Some of my favourite sunscreens
• *Here’s a link to the 2015 study published in JAMA Dermatology
• Here’s a link to the Australian Cancer Council’s post.