“I’m leavin’ on a jet plane …” and I have a window seat. Do I need sunscreen?
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Well, they say (who are “they?” Sounds like dialogue from a “Seinfeld” episode) that you could have a greater risk for skin damage from the sun shining through an airplane window than when you’re on the ground. Are you kidding? A greater risk than direct exposure? Please tell me how!
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According to NY-based dermatologist, Cherish Mizrahi-Levi, “while there is negligible transmission of UVB rays through plastic and glass windshields, UVA transmission through these windows is significant.” Aha! But what’s that mean to you and me?
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According to the travel website, The Points Guy, “you won’t necessarily get a sunburn … UVA penetrates the deeper layers of the skin causing photo-aging. And since your almost 6 miles closer to the sun, these rays are more powerful.” On the other hand, the travel website, Conde Nast Traveller, reports that Marc Glashofer, MD of NJ-based The Dermatology Group, says “Yes, it’s possible to get sunburned on a plane.”
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Before I begin to dissect this, is there anything else we need to consider? Oh yeah – the Journal of American Medical Association reports, a “plane’s window blocks 99% of UVB but only about 50% of UVA. That means about an hour of exposure on a plane is equivalent to 20 minutes in a tanning bed.” Furthermore, they tossed in another quote: “according to SkinCancer.org, there is no safe amount of time that you should spend in a tanning bed.” Jeez. They started discussing planes and the sun and proceeded directly to tanning beds! I wonder if any of those folks own stock in cosmetics companies, because it sure sounds like a plug for sunscreen.
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At this point, I have to quote famous humorist, Will Rogers, who said “Common sense ain’t common.” Well, amen to that, sir! Let us first consider this: has anyone ever seen or even heard of someone getting sunburned while flying a jet? Has anyone seen or read a report of someone getting sunburned on a plane? Now, let’s think about this: wouldn’t the sun have to be beaming directly on your skin through that airplane window for a period of time to have any type of effect? Or, is there a new study that explains how the sun’s rays are like, you know, kinda cosmic and just bounce around inside the plane and hit your skin? C’mon!
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Anyone who has flown on a plane knows that the amount of time the sun actually hits your face or arms is really quite short. At this point, I’ll take a question from the audience. “Um, Joe – what about pilots? Aren’t they exposed to a lot of UV?” Good question. According to Australia’s Cancer Council, “a study in 2015 found that, compared with the general population, pilots and cabin crew had around twice the rate of melanoma.” I can hear the guy in the back who asked the question yelling, “See! I told you!” But, hold on a minute. It was not clear whether the skin damage was caused by exposure to UV radiation during outdoor leisure time while on the ground (Hello, Jamaica!) or while flying the plane. Also of interest: the Aussies point out that only a small amount of UV penetrates the glass, as more modern aircraft windshields provide a nearly total block. Windows in the passenger cabin are generally constructed of three layers of plastic, and highly effective at blocking both UVA and UVB, ensuring passengers are not at risk.
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Hey, now we know!
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Team IST searches for erroneous, suspect or negative reporting by the media that adversely impacts the tanning industry. Reports such as these have plagued tanning businesses for decades. Although the media sources will seldom admit a falsehood and print a retraction, IST offers these well-crafted responses to the negative reports that can be shared with your customers and potential customers, alike.
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