3 Skin Care Secrets To Protect Your Skin From Damage When You Fly

If you want to protect your complexion in-flight, you’ve come to the right place. Below, an easy, three-step routine board-certified dermatologist Lindsey Zubritsky M.D., FAAD, shares on TikTok, just in case you missed this essential summer information.

This may seem strange at first. After all, how much sun damage can you really experience while inside the airplane? According to Zubritsky, you’re actually exposed to way more UV radiation than you might think. “Flying at 30,000 for only an hour gives you about the same radiation as 20 minutes in a tanning bed1,” she notes—a shocking but motivating statistic.

If you don’t have these on-hand, consider picking up a pair to support your travel needs. My go-to: Comrad Knee-High Compression Socks.

You could opt for petrolatum-based products (i.e., anything with mineral oil), but those aren’t necessarily the best for every skin type, plus they aren't so great for the environment. Instead, try layering a face oil over your moisturizer to reap the occlusive benefits without the stickiness. 

Airplane air can wreak havoc on your skin, so in-flight care is important. Remember to close your window and apply sunscreen, wear compression socks if you have them, and drench your skin is moisturizer and face oil to prevent skin dehydration.