Skin Issues with Frequent Fliers | Kosmoderma
Need a reason to go on a vacation so that you can use up your airline miles?
Some of you may envy frequent fliers, but if you ask people who are always on the flight, you might be surprised to hear about all the health issues & concerns that they face. The truth is, when you fly, you are entering a giant aluminum box full of recirculated other-people's- breath. Actually, 37000 feet up, you should be grateful for being able to breathe at all!
Irregular working hours and disturbances to the body clock are other factors that could trigger health problems. Long hours on the flight, lack of sleep, jet lag can make you & your skin lifeless!!!
Let's look at the causes & effects of these issues and a few tips on how to deal with it.
- Flying is very dehydrating for your organs, including your skin: Wash your face once you get on the flight to sweep off pollution and dirt. And of course, keep it moisturized. Avoid drinking coffee, alcohol, or sodas. These squeeze out the water of our cells, and we need as much as we can get while we’re up there. You should be drinking 2 glasses of water every hour.
- Your body goes almost dormant when you travel: Stretch, jump, or go for a jog whenever you get a chance between the flights- anything to boost your circulation. Your skin always looks better after you work out and it makes you feel energetic as well.
- For most people temporary Insomnia kicks in every time they are on the flight: Cover your eyes, listen to soothing music & try to catch up with your sleep. Try essential oils such as Lavender and Grapefruit that can put you to sleep.
- Do not sleep with your mouth wide open: If you can’t help it, cover your mouth with something before you fall asleep. Breathing from your mouth, especially in the flight could be one of the reasons that you catch that nasty cold so frequently. Breath in from your nostrils so that all the recirculated air gets filtered before entering your system.
- There is a strong link between frequent flying and skin cancer: Flying at higher altitudes and the higher latitudes near the poles presents the greatest danger. The amount of cosmic radiation at the poles can be two to three times more than the radiation at the equator. Earth’s electromagnetic field helps to block this radiation down here.
To minimize the risk of skin cancer or other radiation-induced problems, one should follow the prevention guidelines of the Skin Cancer Foundation.
- Avoid sunburns by wearing hats and sunglasses and seeking the shade, especially between 10a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Indoor tanning booths are equally bad.
- Use sunscreen with an SPF of atleast 15 for everyday use. For extended outdoor activity, SPF of 30 or higher should be used. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going outside and reapplied every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.
- Self inspections of your skin on a monthly basis and a yearly medical checkup with a dermatologist is also recommended.
So while you enjoy your frequent flier miles, make sure to follow these simple tips & keep flying higher& higher safely.
Kosmoderma Skin, Hair & Lasers Clinics are dedicated to medical excellence in the field of Cosmetic Dermatology with international accreditation and facilities.
We offer scientifically proven treatments using US FDA approved technology. All our products have undergone extensive research and trials in USA, Europe and India. We pride ourselves in offering safe, effective and affordable treatments with high standards of quality. Kosmoderma gives personalized consults with skin care and uses facial analyzer and 3D imaging of the skin to analyze and personalize the treatments and skin regimen.
