Do you get more UV exposure on a plane?

Planes travel closer to the ozone layer of Earth's atmosphere, which means they're closer to the sun. When you're closer to the sun, the level of UV radiation you're exposed to increases. Dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen and long-sleeved clothing when you're flying on a plane.



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At higher altitudes, the sun's rays have less ultraviolet (UV) light filtering atmosphere to blaze through, and the higher you climb, the thinner the atmosphere.

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The study found that flying in a cockpit for 56.6 minutes at 30,000 feet exposed pilots to the same amount of UV-A radiation as a 20-minute tanning bed session.

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“Pilots are always exposed to the sun's harmful rays,” says Schweitzer. “We have pretty big windows in our flight deck, and it makes our skin more susceptible to skin cancer. I like to carry sun shields with me, I'll wear efficient sunglasses, and of course, my skin-care routine is major.”

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