Studies Show New Skin Cancer Risks for Flight Crews-Now This Pilot Won't Fly Without This $13 Sunscreen

"I grew up in an era that didn't necessarily prioritize skincare...at least not those of us who grew up in the lakeside suburbs of Dallas, Texas, in the early '90s (I remember painting my initials on my body with sunscreen so the letters would show up bright white against my sunned skin). But my childhood of unprotected sun exposure went beyond the yard; my father was a Delta pilot, and I have spent a large chunk of my life in the air."

"Now, as a professional travel writer who is married to a military pilot, I spend just as much (if not more) time on planes-but I'm much more diligent about sunscreen application. In fact, several recent studies have found higher rates of skin cancers among airline employees and frequent travelers. Back in the day, not many pilots I knew were prioritizing sun care, but the pilot community I know now has begun to take sun protection more seriously,"

"It just wasn't something I considered a threat, considering all the other things I was concerned about as a military pilot. It wasn't until I started flying commercially that I realized how important it was to protect from the sun and how great of a risk skin cancer is to the flying community."

I grew up with frequent unprotected sun exposure in suburban Dallas during the early '90s, often using sunscreen playfully rather than protectively. Childhood sun exposure increased because a parent flew for Delta and life spent in the air continued that exposure. As a professional travel writer married to a military pilot, extensive time on planes now prompts diligent sunscreen use. Recent studies report higher skin-cancer rates among airline employees and frequent travelers, and the Air Line Pilots Association acknowledges flight crews face double the incidence of the general population. A pilot who developed basal cell cancer now schedules six-month full-body scans and uses SPF 50 and SPF sleeves. Being at 10,000 feet puts you at a higher risk for UV damage since you are physically closer to the sun.

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