Dry hands can seem like a minor issue to a lot of people. Just put on some moisturiser and you should be good to go, right? That might be a solution for people at home, but getting dry hands while flying might need some different solutions.
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Why do I get dry hands while flying?
Dry hands can usually point to a number of different issues. The most common reason for dry hands is environmental conditions. For instance, hot and dry weather can usually cause our skin to crack, but washing them too much can also strip our hands of natural oils which causes them to dry out. When it comes to travelling, there are two main culprits for dry hands: low humidity levels and heat.
Low humidity usually occurs in drier climates, but it can also happen while you’re on a plane. Researchers observed that skin surface hydration decreases during long flights. This can cause your skin to feel tight and itchy, and this will generally last until your skin has time to acclimate once you get off the plane. Thankfully, you can remedy this somewhat by using a good quality moisturiser before you get on the plane. You might also want to keep some skincare products with you, but keep in mind that you’ll probably need to buy these before you board or keep them in clear travel-sized bottles.
Your dry skin could be caused by something else
If you find that you’re often dealing with dry skin that flares up when you fly, then there’s a possibility that you have an underlying skin condition. You’ll want to visit a dermatology clinic to help you identify if you do have a skin condition such as xerosis or contact dermatitis. Sometimes these conditions are triggered at seemingly random times, but it could be caused by contact with a certain chemical or material that causes it. The more you learn about a potential skin condition, the easier it’ll be to manage it while you travel.
Dealing with dry hands when you’re travelling on a plane
Treating dry hands when you’re abroad is really no different to what you’d do at home. Here are a couple of extra tips that you should follow.
- Keep your skin moisturised based on humidity levels. If the humidity levels are lower than what you’re used to, bring a moisturiser that is a little heavier. Alternatively, apply it once or twice more than what you’d normally do to keep your skin from drying out on the plane.
- Be mindful of the sun when travelling. Consider using suncream to ensure that your skin is protected from the moment you leave your house to the time you arrive at your hotel.
- Avoid drying out your hands with sanitiser. Sanitiser has become a common product to carry with us when flying. However, too much sanitiser can dry out your hands really quickly. Either apply some moisturiser after using it or find a hand sanitiser that doesn’t dry your skin out.
- Keep your medication with you while flying. If your dry skin condition is caused by an underlying condition, make sure you are travelling with some extra medication to ensure you don’t run out.
- Protect your hands when needed. There are a lot of cases where you might want to protect your hands. For instance, if the weather is extremely cold then gloves can help protect them from drying out. Similarly, you may want to wear gloves if you know that you’ll be immersed in water for a long time such as diving.
- Use overnight products when possible. If you have room for it, carry some overnight remedies for your dry hands. This will help you wake up to moisturised hands if it’s a long flight.
- Remember that stress is also a factor. Lastly, don’t forget that stress can also be a factor when it comes to dry skin conditions such as eczema. If your symptoms get worse when you’re stressed, then you may want to be more mindful about how and where you travel.
While dry hands may seem like a minor nuisance for some, others may find that dry skin can end up being painful and really inconvenient. As such, it’s important to focus on using products to keep your skin hydrated, and you should also be more mindful of skin conditions and potential triggers to avoid. This could be everything from touching certain chemicals to eating specific foods. The more you learn about your dry skin, the easier it’ll be to avoid it.
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