PRESS RELEASES

Dry Skin During Flights May Be Alleviated by New Discovery

People with dry skin have always had a hard time on planes: The air is dry, the oxygen content is low, and it’s almost impossible to get rid of the chemical residue from cleaning products and disinfectants on the seats, in the carpeting and in the air. Airline passengers and crews routinely carry dry skin care products on flights – a good shielding lotion is the most practical since it doesn’t contain chemicals that further dry the skin – but scientists have just made a discovery that could make airplane air much healthier and much more comfortable.

According to a study published in the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) most recent issue of Environmental Science and Technology, the combination of ozone and the oils in skin, hair and clothing is producing toxic chemicals known to cause headaches, nasal irritation, and a number of other symptoms associated with ‘sick building syndrome’, including dry, itchy skin.

The problem begins at or above cruising altitude – above 27,000 feet – and, usually, in narrow-bodied planes. The air above 27,000 feet contains two to five times the ozone levels the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says is safe for inside the plane. Most wide-bodied planes carry an ozone-destroying catalyst in their ventilation systems, which keeps the ozone down to a safe level, but many narrow-bodied planes do not.

The result is dry, itchy skin, and a myriad of other symptoms far more serious and irritating. Fortunately, most of them disappear when you get off the plane, but they can sometimes be dangerous, especially for those who fly frequently.

The good news is that scientists know the remedy – install ozone-destroying catalysts in all planes.

Although regulating ozone levels will remove one source of dry skin during flights, it will unfortunately not remove the others. The air will still be stale, and will still be saturated with other industrial chemicals. Continuing to use a dry skin care treatment like a shielding lotion will still be necessary, but at least you won’t run the risk of “sick building syndrome.”