Dry skin on aeroplanes: what are the causes?

Why is the skin drier on an aeroplane?

It is not uncommon to feel a sensation of tightness when travelling by plane. This is more than just a perception: the skin does in fact tend to become much drier during the flight. How can this be explained? Read on to find out.

Published on April 22, 2026, updated on April 22, 2026, by Pauline, Chemical Engineer — 6 min of reading

Key points to remember.

The humidity level in the cabin drops below 10% during the flight, creating an environment drier than most deserts.
Dry air causes an acceleration of transepidermal water loss, reducing skin hydration by almost 37% on the cheeks, according to a study.
The absence of humidifiers on board is a safety measure intended to prevent structural corrosion and bacterial proliferation.
Upon landing, the skin temporarily presents a weakened skin barrier, comparable to that of a person suffering from atopic dermatitis.
Wearing a rich, protective cream is the most effective strategy for blocking evaporation and maintaining the epidermal balance during the flight.

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Air travel: how can in‑flight skin dryness be explained?

As soon as the aircraft doors close and the plane begins its ascent, the environmental conditions change radically. For our skin, this journey through the air results in a sudden exposure to exceptionally dry air, often exceeding that of the most hostile natural environments on the planet.

5–10%

Average humidity level on an aircraft.

65–85%

Average humidity level in Paris (France).

25%

Average humidity level in the Sahara Desert.

Travelling by plane therefore means exposing your skin to an environment that is twice as dry as the largest hot desert in the world.

This dryness is not the result of a malfunction, but a direct consequence of high‑altitude physics. At 10,000 metres, corresponding to the average cruising altitude, the outside air is extremely cold at around −50°C. At these sub-zero temperatures, air loses its ability to retain water vapour, and is therefore naturally devoid of moisture.

To make this air breathable, the aircraft’s air management system takes it from the engines, compresses it and heats it. However, this process does not generate any water. Air is therefore injected into the cabin that is perfectly clean, pressurised, but completely dry. The only sources of humidity on board are then the passengers’ own breathing and transepidermal water loss, which are far from sufficient to stabilise the cabin’s humidity level.

Variation de l'humidité de l'air dans l'avion avec l'altitude. — Variation of air humidity in the aircraft with altitude.
Source : ORIOLI A. & al. Air quality and relative humidity in commercial aircrafts: An experimental investigation on short-haul domestic flights. Building and Environment (1993).

If airlines do not artificially re-humidify the air, this is due to major technical reasons. The addition of water vapour would substantially increase the aircraft’s weight because of the mass of water, and would raise the risk of corrosion of metal structures or failure of electrical systems. Priority is therefore given to pressurisation and air purity, at the expense of optimal humidity levels for our skin.

Faced with such a dry environment, insensible water loss accelerates.

Following a pressure gradient, the dry cabin air “draws out” the moisture contained in the upper layers of the skin in an attempt to reach equilibrium. A study conducted with eight female travellers on long-haul flights (Paris–New York and Tokyo–Paris) measured skin capacitance, an indicator of the hydration level of the stratum corneum. The results are unequivocal: hydration drops dramatically from the very first hours of the flight.

37%

of cutaneous hydration loss at the level of the cheeks after a long-haul flight.

25%

in cutaneous hydration loss on the forehead after a long-haul flight.

This drop is so great that the hydration levels measured upon landing are comparable to those of patients suffering from atopic dermatitis, a skin disease characterised by a structurally deficient skin barrier. In practical terms, this water-related stress may manifest as sensations of tightness and discomfort, but also as redness and increased reactivity, especially if the skin is already naturally dry.

Note : Even short flights can affect skin hydration. The referenced study shows that skin dryness sets in within the first two hours of the flight.

How can we combat skin dryness on an aeroplane?

Since you cannot act on the ambient air in the cabin, the solution lies in the creation of an artificial barrier. The aim is to seal water within the epidermis before the cabin air can draw it out, using an effective skincare routine.

The contribution of humectants : Active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or glycerine retain water within skin tissues, but they must be covered with an oily or occlusive texture to prevent them from drawing moisture out of the skin and into the extremely dry surrounding air.
The application of occlusive creams : On an aeroplane, it is advisable to use formulations rich in film-forming agents, such as waxes or plant butters, which act as a physical shield on the surface of the stratum corneum to prevent water from evaporating.
Avoid pure water mists : Spraying water onto your face without applying a cream afterwards is counterproductive. The water evaporates almost instantly, taking with it your skin’s natural moisture.