Saving face

Skin Care For Frequent Fliers

Air travel leaves its marks on the traveller’s skin. Dr Satish T Bhatia, dermatologist, gives Reema Sisodia a few tips on how to counter this

Terri Lyngonlet and Pat Lagieski are senior flight attendants with KLM-North West Airlines. Despite using lotions, moisturisers and anti-aging products, Pat recently noticed the development of pre-mature wrinkles around the jaw-line and deep sunken lines around the mouth. Terri started developing wrinkles around the mouth area and around the eyes that also resulted in pigmentation.

Terri and Pat are just two of Dr Satish Bhatia’s patients who are bearing the harmful effects of constantly being ‘on air’.

Overall thinning of the skin leading to the sunken look is among the host of problems faced by frequent fliers. According to Dr Bhatia, there are a number of reasons for the damage to the human body due to frequent flying. Some are indirect and invisible while others hit you straight in the face.

“Frequent flyers are prone to early loss of water content of the tissue in the skin leading to early wrinkles and ageing. Research reveals that humidity levels on planes can dip as low as the Sahara desert and this along with a pressurised cabin causes a drying effect on the skin tissue, leading to premature wrinkling and a sunken or tired skin. Further, there are also documented cases which reveal that excessive flying also triggers changes in the hormone levels causing disorders within the human anatomy. Jet lags too have a long drawn influence on the skin and its texture,” said Dr Bhatia.

While he makes it clear that one can’t really escape the tell-tale marks of frequent flying, a disciplined lifestyle and health regime can help delay the fallout. He imparts a few tips to look and feel fresh and composed at the end of a long, harrowing flight.

In-flight measures:

• Use a good moisturiser and go easy while applying, targeting only areas that appear tight.
• Water is a travel essential, drink no less than six glasses a day.
• By leaning forward in your seat and supporting your face for a few minutes, you provide the right amount of pressure on facial skin tissues to help eliminate the puffiness caused by lengthy flights.
• A light splash of cool water keeps skin supple and decreases the chances of puffiness on arrival.

Long-term solutions:

Dermal Implants - It is now possible to ‘remove a few years’ in a matter of minutes by restoring volume to the face, leaving smoother, younger looking skin. Semi-permanent injectable implants designed for filling wrinkles and folds, for correcting skin imperfections and for remodelling facial contours are now available. Dermal implants are designed for filling wrinkles and folds, for correcting skin imperfections and for remodelling facial contours, to treat the loss of water content in the tissue.

Dermal implants are semi-permanent with no risks of allergy. More over, they do not contain any preservatives or anaesthetics and can be used immediately without any necessity of a skin test. These dermal implants are injected in the appropriate layer of the skin in order to create volume wherever required. The results are a harmonious and natural look which lasts for many years instead of the usual few months.

However, one cannot stop the skin ageing process. Therefore one or more retouching sessions may be needed after a few years. These treatments can be performed in about 30 minutes and without the influence of anaesthesia. It can take place even during a lunch break and the patient can resume work and normal activities immediately after treatment.

(Dr Satish Bhatia is dermatologist and cutaneous surgeon - Dermetics, Lady Ratan Tata Institute and Research Centre. He can be contacted at: Dermetics, Lady Ratan Tata Institute and Research Centre, Tel: 22874668, 22886732; email: derm@vsnl.com; website: www.dermdestination.com)