Can I get sunburned on a plane?

The sun is blazing, the sky is crystal clear. I’m seated by the window at cruising altitude, bathed in brilliant light above a blanket of clouds. As the plane glides smoothly along, a question crosses my mind: Could this actually be harmful? Is the sunlight really stronger up here than on the ground? And if so, is it actually possible to get sunburned inside an airplane?

«It's actually possible,» says Marianne Meli, medical director of the Dermanence dermatology practice on Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse. «Airplane windows largely block UVB radiation, which is primarily responsible for sunburn, but they allow a significant portion of long-wave UVA radiation to pass through.»

This can penetrate deep into the skin, accelerating skin aging, causing DNA damage, and increasing the risk of skin cancer in the long term. «In addition, UV radiation is particularly intense at high altitudes, as the protective effect of the atmosphere is significantly lower there, allowing more radiation to penetrate unfiltered,» Meli adds.

Sunscreen can be useful

On long flights, sitting in a sun-facing window seat can increase UVA exposure, says the dermatologist. «People with very fair skin, existing skin damage, or an increased risk of skin cancer should therefore be particularly careful and consistently wear good sun protection.»

In these cases, according to Meli, it can make absolute sense from a dermatological point of view to apply a sunscreen with high UVA protection before the flight in order to best protect the skin from light-induced skin aging and long-term damage.

The idea of getting sunburned on an airplane may sound strange, but it's not entirely unfounded. If you want to be on the safe side, pack not only a neck support and headphones in your hand luggage, but also a good sunscreen.