IF you are a fan of the window seat on a plane, there is a big mistake you are most likely making.
Passengers often choose the window seat so they can get the best view during take off and landing.
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However, an expert has revealed that most travellers forget one very important thing when sitting there.
Dermatologist Dr. Joyce Park, founder of virtual dermatology clinic Skin Refinery, explained that passengers often forgo wearing suncream on a flight – which is a huge no no.
In a recent TikTok video, she said: “Dermatology lesson #21: When you learn that pilots have 2x incidence of melanoma [the third most common type of skin cancer] and you should ABSOLUTELY wear sunscreen on airplanes or keep the windows shut.”
Dr Park cited a 2015 study of flight crew which found that both pilots and flight attendants have around “twice the incidence of melanoma compared with the general population”.
She continued in the video: “Flying in the cockpit for 56 minutes at 30K feet received the same amount of UV radiation as that from a 20-minute tanning sesh.”
“Even MORE UVA is reflected when flying over thick clouds and snow. Windows block UVB, not UVA.”
UVA rays are the most damaging rays as they penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB, causing wrinkles and aging, while UVB causes sunburn and skin damage.
A way to remember this is A for aging and B for burning.
Dr Park finished by saying: “Make sure to wear sunscreen or keep your window shut to reduce exposure to UVA during your flight.
“After all, you don’t want 1/2 of your face getting more sun damage than the other.”
People on TikTok backed Dr Park, with a number of pilots and flight attendants praising her comments.
One wrote: “I’m a pilot and I haven’t left my house without 70spf [sun protection factor] on my face in over 3 years.”
Another woman said: “I always wear sunscreen when flying. The last couple times I flew my face was BURNING from the sun reflecting.”
Dr Sweta Rai of the British Association of Dermatologists also told Sun Online Travel: “Pilots are at higher risk of skin cancer and sun-induced damage as they sit in bright light.
“But passengers on flights should take heed and do the same.
“The window next to you on a plane may be small, but you’re closer to the ozone layer on a flight by tens of thousands of feet.
“The sun’s rays are much more harmful at this level and we should all be wearing sunscreen when flying.”
She recommends wearing at least factor 30 and applying it every two hours.
A former flight attendant previously issued a similar warning to passengers too
Arina Bloom, who worked on planes for two years, told Insider: “After take off, as the aircraft passes through clouds, the sun only gets stronger.
“It’s important to wear and reapply sunscreen before and during the flight.”
Here are some of the best face SPFs you should invest in this summer.
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