Never sit next to the window on a plane, it could have serious consequences on your health

Can you think of a better way to observe the landscape from above, than traveling with your head glued to the window? Do you enjoy watching the ground go further and further away as you fly higher than the clouds? Well, your favourite seat has actually got a real weakness to it. You should definitely consider all the pros and cons of the window seat on your plane.

Dr. Sweta Rai of the British Association of Dermatologists talked to the Sun Online Travel about the dangers of sitting on the window seat for your skin. However, his arguments are not backed up by the Cancer Council, who argues there isn't enough data to come up with specific recommendations.

The window seat includes a risk for your skin

So, of course the window seat saves you the (unbearable) back-and-forth of people going to the bathroom or wandering up-and-down the aisles of the plane. It also gives you the best view on the plane, and a great headrest. However, you should not be blinded by all those pros, as there is a massive con. Travel Hacker, specialists in airplane comfort, took to TikTok to share advice on the best seats of the plane.

Indeed, this highly-desired seat is not without risks according to Travel Hacker experts. And for good reason, as the glass allows UV rays to penetrate inside the plane, thus damaging your skin through the window. An observation shared by Dr Sweta Rai of the British Association of Dermatologists, which he shared with the Sun Online Travel:

The window next to you on a plane may be small, but you’re closer to the ozone layer on a flight by tens of thousands of feet. The sun’s rays are much more harmful at this level and we should all be wearing sunscreen when flying.

Read more:This is the shocking reason why you should always wear sunscreen on a plane

The Cancer Council says there aren't enough studies yet

However, this risk is to be put into perspective according to the Cancer Council, which considers that there are still too few studies on this subject to be able to confirm this health risk. That being said, observations show that pilots and cabin crew have twice as many melanomas as other people.

UV radiation increases with altitude and while some commercial aircraft windshields let through a small amount of UV, more modern aircraft windshields provide almost a total block.

So nothing is irreversible, but a simple recommendation should be enough to avoid any adverse effects on the skin: always wear sunscreen.

Cancer Council recommends that when UV levels are 3 or above you seek shade, wear a hat that covers the head, neck and ears, wear sun protective clothing and close-fitting sunglasses, and wear an SPF30 or higher sunscreen.

This article has been translated from Gentside FR.

Read more:Never do these 3 things on a plane, according to a steward

Sources used:

CancerCouncil: Can you get sunburnt on a plane?

NewYorkPost: You should always wear sunscreen on airplanes