Should you wear sunscreen while flying? Dr Yalda: UV rays are higher on planes so ditch window seat
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Doctor’s stark health warning about flying in a window seat scares travelers: ‘Everyone needs to hear this’
- A doctor has revealed why you should always wear sunscreen while flying
- Dr Yalda Jamali is a medical and cosmetic doctor specializing in skin care
- She said flying for an hour has the same UV exposure as 20 minutes in a tanning bed
- Many were shocked by the claim and promised to bring sunscreen on their next trip
- However, the Cancer Council has rejected the need for sunscreen on airplanes
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A skincare and cosmetic doctor has shocked thousands after claiming that a one-hour flight has the same UV exposure as spending 20 minutes in a tanning bed — but not everything is as ominous as it seems.
dr. Yalda Jamali, who holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and a level 7 postgraduate qualification in aesthetic medicine, advised travelers to apply SPF liberally before flying due to the drastically higher UV levels.
‘UV exposure, especially UVA, is increased during a flight. A study found that a 60-minute flight equates to the same UVA exposure as a 20-minute tanning session,” the Sydney-based cosmetic doctor wrote on Instagram.
dr. Yalda Jamali (pictured) sent travelers on a spin after she revealed that flying for 60 minutes on an airplane exposes flyers to the same amount of UV rays as 20 minutes in a tanning bed
Viewers were shocked by Dr Yalda’s ‘insane’ travel fact, which she said is the reason she keeps the window closed ‘as much as possible’ on every flight
“Don’t forget to pack your SPF,” she added.
Viewers were shocked by Dr. Yalda’s “insane” travel act, which she said is the reason she keeps the window down “as much as possible” on every flight.
‘WHAT!! I always top up my sunscreen on a flight, but I’ll smother myself in it, please and thank you!’ a woman remarked.
‘Woww I didn’t know this,’ said another while a third shouted ‘Omg I had no idea!!!!’.
The skin and cosmetologist advised travelers to apply SPF before flying because of the higher UV levels in a video posted on Instagram
UVA is one of two types of ultraviolet light that has a longer wavelength and is associated with skin aging, while UVB has a shorter wavelength and causes skin burns.
The study dr. Yalda mentioned the increased risk of melanoma in pilots and cabin crew and compared the amount of UV radiation in airplane cockpits compared to that in tanning beds.
It found that plastic windows, such as those on commercial aircraft, block UVB rays, the ones that cause sunburn, but have no effect on the transmission of harmful UVA rays.
The study cited by Dr. Yalda found that pilots flying for 56.6 minutes at 30,000 feet are exposed to the same amount of cancer-causing radiation as those from a 20-minute tanning session
Researchers at the University of California said a significant amount of UVA passes through airplane windows when the sun is shining or even on a cloudy day.
Pilots flying for 56.6 minutes at 30,000 feet are exposed to the same amount of cancer-causing radiation as those from a 20-minute tanning session.
Occasional exposure to UVA radiation won’t do much harm to those who don’t travel often, but those who fly regularly were advised to apply sunscreen every two hours while in the air.
However, the Cancer Council has previously rejected claims that additional sun protection is needed on commercial aircraft.
It said many other factors may play a role in the relationship with pilots’ increased skin cancer risk, and more evidence was needed to support the claim that UV levels are higher in airplanes.
“There is no credible evidence to suggest that passengers can get sunburned on commercial airline flights, so the Cancer Council does not recommend the need for sun protection,” reads an article on its website.
‘Windows in the passenger cabin are usually made of three layers of plastic. These materials are very effective at blocking both UVA and UVB, so passengers are not at risk.’