After several hours in the air, all you want to do is jump in a hot shower and let the fatigue melt away. However, this incredibly tempting reflex might not be the best thing for your skin. A flight attendant and several experts suggest reconsidering this habit, especially after a long-haul flight.<\/p>\n
You step off the plane with a feeling of tightness, a slightly wrinkled complexion, as if your face is crying out for a large glass of water. This sensation even has a name: "airplane skin." In the cabin, the humidity level generally fluctuates between 10% and 20%, while on the ground it's more like 40% to 60%. This difference is explained by the technical constraints related to pressurization and by the outside air drawn in at altitude, which is naturally very dry, as the International Air Transport Association points out<\/a> .<\/p>\n The result: your skin loses more water. Dermatologists call this transepidermal water loss. In practical terms, this can manifest as tightness, diffuse redness, a duller complexion, and sometimes a few small blemishes. Even combination or oily skin can react by producing more sebum to compensate. Your skin is doing its best to protect itself.<\/p>\n Let's be honest: after a flight, a hot shower feels like a giant hug. However, when your skin is already dehydrated, high heat can make matters worse. Very hot water damages the hydrolipidic film, that thin natural barrier made of water and lipids that protects your epidermis. By weakening it, you increase the evaporation of water from the skin and make it more sensitive.<\/p>\n The American Academy of Dermatology recommends<\/a> avoiding long, very hot showers, especially for those with dry or sensitive skin. They suggest using lukewarm water instead to preserve the skin barrier. This advice is particularly relevant after a flight: your skin has already been exposed to several hours of dry air. There's no need to add to the stress.<\/p>\n After a long journey, you might observe:<\/p>\n These reactions don't mean your skin is "fussy." On the contrary, they show that it's alive, dynamic, and capable of adapting. It's simply trying to regain its balance.<\/p>\n Good news: it's not about banning the shower, but about adapting it.<\/p>\n Dermatologists also advise against scrubs and exfoliating treatments on the day of a long-haul flight. Your skin doesn't need to be "stripped," but pampered.<\/p>\n In short, "airplane skin" isn't a marketing myth: the dry air in shower cabins really does weaken the skin. In this context, a very hot shower, however comforting, can exacerbate existing dehydration. By opting for a gentler temperature and focusing on hydrating products, you give your skin a softer landing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After several hours in the air, all you want to do is jump in a hot shower and...","protected":false},"author":8375,"featured_media":435535,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[96338],"tags":[97311,97274],"class_list":["post-435531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-voyage","tag-conseils","tag-peau"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Brett-Sayles-_-Pexels-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Brett-Sayles-_-Pexels-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Brett-Sayles-_-Pexels.jpg","author":{"name":"Fabienne Baure","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/fabienne_baure-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":96338,"name":"Travel","slug":"voyage","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":96510,"taxonomy":"category","description":" The Travel section of The Body Optimist shares destination ideas<\/strong> and practical advice for planning your trips, close to home or abroad: preparation, budget, packing, transportation, solo or family travel. We also cover what guidebooks often leave out, like traveling with peace of mind in a fat body, on a plane or at the beach, so everyone can get away and truly relax.<\/p>\n A comfortable flight starts when you book. Check seat width and legroom on the airline\u2019s website or on a seat map, and if possible reserve an aisle seat or a row with extra legroom. Read the airline\u2019s policy for passengers who need more space, sometimes called a \u201ccustomer of size\u201d policy: some airlines let you buy a second seat, occasionally refundable, while others don\u2019t. On board, you can discreetly ask a flight attendant for a seatbelt extender. Wear soft, stretchy clothes without a tight waistband, and get up regularly to stretch your legs. Our tips on choosing the best seat on a long-haul flight<\/a> round out this advice.<\/p>\n We talk about travel without clich\u00e9s: no \u201cbeach body\u201d to earn before you go, no destination reserved for one body type or budget. We focus on practical advice, accessible ideas and real-life experiences, and we also tackle the thornier topics, like overtourism and the environmental impact of travel. Our goal: helping you travel the way you want, solo, as a couple, with friends or with family.<\/p>\n For a first solo trip, choose a destination known to be safe, well served by public transportation and where you can easily make yourself understood. A large, walkable city, a region of your own country you\u2019ve never explored, or a stay at a guesthouse or hostel lets you find your footing gently.<\/p>\n Prices generally drop outside school vacations and holiday weekends. The shoulder seasons between peak and off-peak periods (late spring and early fall in the Northern Hemisphere) often strike a good balance between pleasant weather, lower prices and smaller crowds. Being flexible with your dates, comparing trains, buses and flights, and traveling with just a carry-on can also help you save.<\/p>\n Yes. Most airlines carry seatbelt extenders on board and lend them on request; you can discreetly ask a flight attendant as soon as you board. For safety reasons, airlines generally require you to use their own approved extender rather than a personal one.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Build a vacation wardrobe that feels like you with our Fashion<\/a> section, and travel more responsibly with our Green<\/a> section.<\/p>","parent":0,"count":288,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":96338,"category_count":288,"category_description":" The Travel section of The Body Optimist shares destination ideas<\/strong> and practical advice for planning your trips, close to home or abroad: preparation, budget, packing, transportation, solo or family travel. We also cover what guidebooks often leave out, like traveling with peace of mind in a fat body, on a plane or at the beach, so everyone can get away and truly relax.<\/p>\n A comfortable flight starts when you book. Check seat width and legroom on the airline\u2019s website or on a seat map, and if possible reserve an aisle seat or a row with extra legroom. Read the airline\u2019s policy for passengers who need more space, sometimes called a \u201ccustomer of size\u201d policy: some airlines let you buy a second seat, occasionally refundable, while others don\u2019t. On board, you can discreetly ask a flight attendant for a seatbelt extender. Wear soft, stretchy clothes without a tight waistband, and get up regularly to stretch your legs. Our tips on choosing the best seat on a long-haul flight<\/a> round out this advice.<\/p>\n We talk about travel without clich\u00e9s: no \u201cbeach body\u201d to earn before you go, no destination reserved for one body type or budget. We focus on practical advice, accessible ideas and real-life experiences, and we also tackle the thornier topics, like overtourism and the environmental impact of travel. Our goal: helping you travel the way you want, solo, as a couple, with friends or with family.<\/p>\n For a first solo trip, choose a destination known to be safe, well served by public transportation and where you can easily make yourself understood. A large, walkable city, a region of your own country you\u2019ve never explored, or a stay at a guesthouse or hostel lets you find your footing gently.<\/p>\n Prices generally drop outside school vacations and holiday weekends. The shoulder seasons between peak and off-peak periods (late spring and early fall in the Northern Hemisphere) often strike a good balance between pleasant weather, lower prices and smaller crowds. Being flexible with your dates, comparing trains, buses and flights, and traveling with just a carry-on can also help you save.<\/p>\n Yes. Most airlines carry seatbelt extenders on board and lend them on request; you can discreetly ask a flight attendant as soon as you board. For safety reasons, airlines generally require you to use their own approved extender rather than a personal one.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Build a vacation wardrobe that feels like you with our Fashion<\/a> section, and travel more responsibly with our Green<\/a> section.<\/p>","cat_name":"Travel","category_nicename":"voyage","category_parent":0}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/435531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8375"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=435531"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/435531\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":435760,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/435531\/revisions\/435760"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/435535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=435531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=435531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=435531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} Why a very hot shower isn't your best ally<\/h2>\n
The signs that your skin has traveled too<\/h2>\n
\n
The right reflexes to adopt upon landing<\/h2>\n
\n
What you\u2019ll find in the Travel section<\/h2>\n
\n
How can you fly comfortably as a plus-size traveler?<\/h2>\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to start with<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
Where should you go on your first solo trip?<\/h3>\n
When is the cheapest time to travel?<\/h3>\n
Can you ask for a seatbelt extender on a plane?<\/h3>\n
What you\u2019ll find in the Travel section<\/h2>\n
\n
How can you fly comfortably as a plus-size traveler?<\/h2>\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to start with<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
Where should you go on your first solo trip?<\/h3>\n
When is the cheapest time to travel?<\/h3>\n
Can you ask for a seatbelt extender on a plane?<\/h3>\n