And with Brits up and down the country packing up and jetting off to exotic destinations around the globe, the best ways for avoiding jet-lagged skin and combat potential risks have now been revealed.
While jet-lag is well renowned for making you feel lethargic and rather disorientated, many may not have thought about the impact travelling can also have on your skin.
From recirculated aeroplane air, to UV rays passing through aeroplane windows and reduced sleep, travelling can have a detrimental impact on the health of our skin. While there are some quick fixes to improve your skin after a flight, the best way to avoid jet-lagged skin involves taking action well before take-off, and your wider skincare routine is key.
Dr Dave Reilly, Absolute Collagen’s Skin Care Scientist, explains why your skin suffers during and after a flight and the tricks you need in your regime to overcome them.
Why does your skin become jet-lagged?
1. Air quality
“It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that poor air quality is the main culprit for causing skin problems”, says Dr Reilly. “When you get on a plane, you’re essentially sitting in a high-pressure environment with cabin air that has very low humidity. This can lead to skin dryness. In addition to this, lack of oxygen circulation to our skin means that stress hormones and levels of cortisol can be much higher than normal, and these impact the skin barrier. Flying really is the perfect storm for a breakout.”
2. High UV rays
Have you ever felt like you’re burning up sitting on the window seat of an aeroplane? Well, it’s not in your head, at high altitudes you’re bombarded by UVA, in fact airline pilots and crew members tend to experience higher levels of UV exposure than people in other professions. This is backed up by a study, which found that a 60-minute flight is equivalent to the same UVA exposure as a 20-minute tanning bed session. “These rays can cause skin cells to age and result in indirect damage to cell DNA. Too much UVA exposure has a long-term impact on skin, creating wrinkles and affecting collagen production, so it’s important to keep this in mind before getting on a flight,” says Dr Reilly.
3. Lack of sleep
“People often talk about ‘getting your beauty sleep’ and while that’s not necessarily completely accurate, sleep really is key to skin repair and regeneration. Different skin processes will occur at different times, for example, nighttime is when the skin repairs damage. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, your moisture levels can be affected and this makes your skin look less youthful and duller. Lack of sleep while travelling is very common, so it can have a real impact on your skin.”
Recommended skin and daily routine before and while travelling by aeroplane includes:
1. Hydration
“Keeping your skin moisturised ahead of the trip is key to ensuring your skin remains hydrated throughout the entire flight. As part of your regime, you should ensure you’re using a good quality day and night cream, whereas, for the flight I’d suggest using a night cream when you arrive at your destination as it is richer and will help lock in more moisture to get your skin back to its best. In addition, you should ensure that you drink your recommended daily intake of water too, as this is key for body optimisation but also skin hydration.”
2. Collagen
“Collagen is the most prominent protein in the body, where it has many roles including firmness and elasticity of healthy skin. It, therefore, is a great idea to get a dose of collagen ahead of a long-haul (or any) flight. Absolute Collagen’s daily supplement has undergone rigorous clinical testing which has shown that 100% of the trialists experienced improvements in skin quality. These supplements are perfect to take travelling and should be implemented as part of your wider skincare routine to keep that holiday glow.”
3. Exfoliation
“Exfoliating your skin is a crucial component to any skincare routine, although it’s not something you need to do every day as part of your skin routine. However, ahead of a flight, it’s a good idea to do some gentle exfoliation in the days ahead of your flight, combined with regular moisturising, to ensure you’re preparing your skin barrier.”
4. Diet
“Your diet is super important for your skin whether you’re heading on holiday or not. A well-balanced diet packed full of fruit and veg is what we’re all aiming for, but not always possible. While you should be aiming for your 5-a-day as part of your general routine, ahead of your flight, it’s a good idea to up your antioxidant fruit and vegetable intake.”
“The combination of hydration, exfoliation and diet with Absolute Collagen’s supplement is a great way to avoid that jet-lagged skin.”
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