Why do airplanes make your skin look worse?

Airplane acne is a real thing, and many travelers are affected by it. The dry air on airplanes can irritate your skin, no matter what type you have. For those with already dry skin, the air on a plane can exacerbate the dryness, while those with oily skin could produce excess oils to compensate for the dryness.



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“When we fly our skin becomes dehydrated, especially on long-haul flights,” explains Consultant Dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall. “Essentially the recycled air in the cabin is incredibly drying.

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“This means that the skin on your face and body can become incredibly dehydrated, even on a short flight.” The consequences can appear in the form of oily skin, breakouts and puffiness, as the skin desperately tries to hang on to water and compensate for the arid conditions.

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“After you get off a flight, thoroughly wash your face with a soap-free hydrating cleanser to remove any dirt or oil from the airplane,” Dr. Zeichner recommends. Then apply a moisturizer to help hydrate and repair any damage to the skin barrier. “Use cold compresses for any puffiness,” says Dr.

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Here, we're sharing our essential airplane beauty tips:
  1. Go minimal with makeup.
  2. Wear warm and comfy clothing.
  3. Use easy eye makeup.
  4. Brighten up with a highlighting concealer.
  5. Prevent dry, cracked lips.
  6. Drink lots of water.
  7. Soothe tired eyes.
  8. Pack a hydrating facial spray.


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“Humidity in a plane can drop to 20% – a whopping 45% lower than the average humidity in London. Your dehydrated dermis becomes increasingly dry and, in defence, the skin provides more oil which in turn can exacerbate acne.”

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Travelling dehydrates the skin When you board a plane, the humidity drops to a mere 20%. As your skin attempts to compensate for this, moisture is pulled from the deeper layers. This leads to a dehydrated complexion. Throw in a few drinks from the bar cart and you're at an even higher risk of systemic dehydration.

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Flying not only takes a toll on your body, it can also wreak havoc on your skin; the unnatural pressurized environment of a plane sucks moisture out of skin, leaving your skin dehydrated.

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If you've ever boarded a flight with clear, hydrated skin only to step off the plane with blocked pores, pimples and an unsightly greasy sheen, you've almost certainly been served a dose of aeroplane acne. It's a common issue for many of us, and those breakouts we experience after flying can take days to clear up.

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If you do happen to pick up bacteria or fungi that's not your own, this may lead to itchiness and bumps on the skin and scalp. Showering after flights is probably a good thing—regardless of the length! —if only to have that clean feel after being cooped up in a cabin.

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Sitting down in a tight seat for 13+ hours can sometimes lead to circulation issues, including swelling in the feet. According to The Healthy, the chance of your body forming blood clots increases when blood isn't moving correctly, such as when onboard a long-haul flight.

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Dryness and air pressure changes can affect your ears, sinuses & taste. A 3 hour flight can shed up to 1.5 litres of water from the body. Aeroplane cabin humidity levels as low as 4% can cause the mucous membranes of your nose, mouth and throat to dry out.

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Jet belly: (noun) the bloated state in which your stomach inflates post-flight. Also, a very unpleasant feeling. May also make you look like you're 3 months pregnant. So how does one prevent this jet belly? Well, it all depends on what you eat on the plane.

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