Aches On A Plane: Why Flying Makes You Feel Bad

Did you know that your natural skin oils may be poisoning you on airplanes?

Do you feel ill after flying?

As strange as that may sound, according to the American Chemical Society, common air traveler complaints like nasal irritation, headaches, dry eyes and chapped lips may be caused by a reaction between the ozone in the plane’s cabin and the oils that your skin and hair naturally produce.

Can skin oils be causing the problem?

According to the study’s lead author, Charles Weschler, Ph.D., from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, chemicals from the skin, squalene and oleic acid combine with ozone to create compounds known as nonanal and decanal. These same chemicals have been linked to headaches in cases of “sick building” syndrome.

How can you prevent this flight sickness?

There are two conditions that must be met before these sickening chemicals are formed. First, you (or the other people you’re flying with) must have oily skin or hair. Second the plane must have higher than normal levels of ozone. This doesn’t occur on every plane. In fact, larger planes have ventilation systems to destroy ozone. So stay off smaller planes if you’re concerned because they’re more likely to cause this problem. Of course, the same conditions can occur if you live in a ozone-rich high smog area. Again, the solution is good ventilation.

Check out the link for more details on this fascinating discovery. I don’t know about you, but the next time the Beauty Brains fly, we’ll be wearing one of these fashionable facial masks. No more aches and pains for us!