Why you shouldn't take a hot shower after a flight and why you shouldn't bathe before a trip: when and how to cleanse your skin

No matter how tempting the prospect of taking a hot bath or shower after a long and tiring flight may seem, the soaring temperatures can be harmful to the skin, according to an experienced traveler.

Travis Carinci, a customer service manager at Qantas who flies an average of 59,952 miles a month, said he skips this procedure. He told CN Traveller about the reason.

The fact is that the skin suffers a lot in a confined space with dry air. No wonder passengers are advised to drink enough and moisturize their body and face before, during, and after the flight.

In contrast, hot showers can only harm the skin by drying it out even more. Travis Carinci said, "I don't take super hot showers, which, while tempting after a long flight, are a surefire way to dry out your skin."

However, taking a bath or at least washing your face after a flight should be a mandatory procedure for everyone.

No matter how sterile your seat looks on the plane, it's impossible to say with 100% certainty that there are no bacteria or fungi left on your body after the flight.

They can lurk on armrests, seat belts, window curtains, tray tables, toilet handles, etc. for several days. This is just one reason to wash your hands and face immediately after boarding.

At home, you should also wash your body with soap. However, it is better to do this with warm or cool water, which will refresh you after a tiring flight and not dry out your skin.

Also, no one is guaranteed that there will not be a sick passenger on the plane who can infect neighbors.

As for showering before a flight, it is better not to take it, warned Bruce Green, a certified scientist and founder of the SOS skincare serum line, in a conversation with the Daily Star.

According to him, one of the main reasons why it is not recommended to wash before a flight is the risk of disrupting the body's natural fat and water balance.

That is, the protective layer of oils that moisturizes the skin during the day may not have time to recover before landing, so the body will become more vulnerable to dry air and bacteria.