Reasons For Tabir Surya And SPF Are Still Mandatory To Use During Flights

Illustration (Moose Photos/Pexels)

JAKARTA - Skin doctors agree that people still have to wear sunscreen during the flight considering ultraviolet light on the plane is even stronger than on land because it is closer to the ozone layer.

dermatologist Dr. Joyce Park seemed broadcast by Insider, recommending everyone who boarded the plane, be it passengers, pilots, or flight attendants, to wear sunscreen before the flight.

You really have to wear sunscreen on the plane or close the window. Research found that frequent protective flying puts people at risk of developing skin cancer," Park said.

Park referred to a 2015 study published in "JAMA Dermatology" that observes the risk of skin cancer for pilots and cabin crew. According to research, airplane windows and windshields are usually made of polycarbonate plastic or multilayered composite glass that precludes ultraviolet B (UVB) transmission, but not for ultraviolet A (UVA).

Ultraviolet B rays can cause the skin to catch fire while ultraviolet A light is associated with skin aging. However, both are associated with skin cancer. Especially for pilots, research found that being in the cockpit for about an hour at 30,000 feet makes them exposed to the same amount of ultraviolet A radiation as a skinning bed session or being in a tool to help make a person's skin brown, such as sunbathing in the sun, for 20 minutes.

The beam can also endanger passengers sitting in chairs near windows and flight attendants. Some flight attendants say that skin cancer and aging are the reasons they always wear sunscreen in flight.

Park recommends that passengers sitting in a chair near the window consider closing the window. However, if the view is too beautiful to miss, wear a long-sleeved shirt and use sunscreen with a sun shielding factor (SPF).