It's no secret that travelling by plane may cause great damage to the skin. Travelling at an altitude of 30,000 feet may cause severe dryness, which is the reason behind the spread of a large trend on social media sites, for people who review detailed and multi-step types of skin care routines, to keep it as moist as possible.
It is not surprising that the skin gets dry during the flight, as this is due to the low humidity inside the plane, according to the British news agency (BA Media).
The agency quotes Dr. Zadeh Manish, a doctor who works in a specialised skin care clinic in London, as saying that “under normal circumstances, the humidity ranges between 40 and 60 percent, while in the cabin of the plane ranges between 10 and 20 percent, which is very low, so the loss of water through the skin increases, where the skin loses a large amount of water.”
"This can lead to skin tightening and dryness, and the appearance of the skin dured and not soft," he says.
This problem becomes more apparent during long-haul flights than short ones, which is why Bernard Ho, a consultant dermatologist and spokesman for the UK Skin Health Alliance, suggests that it may "require some skin care during the flight".
This may include increasing the use of moisturising elements in your skincare routine before starting the trip, in addition to skipping a few steps.
Bernard Ho advises to avoid “any product that contains active substances that will cause dry skin,” adding: “Although the skin may be oily during the flight, more dryness is what will affect it the most during the flight, not being greasy. I recommend moisturising first, avoiding substances such as alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids, and retinol. Some guidelines may advise avoiding these active substances for a period of 24 to 48 hours before the start of the flight, for fear of dehydration on board.”
Manish also supports a simple routine, which is a moisturising serum, a skin moisturiser, and sunscreen for flights during the day, noting that it is useful to reuse it every period “ranging from four to five hours”.
Even if you don't use sunscreen during the flight, he adds: “If one is on vacationing in a sunny place, UV exposure increases once they get off the plane, so it may be important to put on sunscreen before getting off the plane.”
He and Manish recommend drinking plenty of water during the trip, and Manish adds: “I recommend avoiding alcohol and salty snacks, as they may lead to dry skin.”
He adds: “I would also like to point out that there are some women who are inclined to put on cosmetic powders, putting on a few of them is good, but excessive them may lead to clogged pores.”
