--- description: Before you travel this season, be sure to protect yourself from the sun while you’re getting to your destination, and while you're there! title: A Surprising Danger in Planes, Trains and Automobiles - The Skin Cancer Foundation image: https://www.skincancer.org/wp-content/uploads/JB_HolidayTravel.jpg --- ![Sun \& Skin News]() # A Surprising Danger in Planes, Trains and Automobiles By [Julie Bain](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/author/jbain/) • Published On: December 4, 2023 • Last Updated: August 30, 2024 ![holiday-travel](https://www.skincancer.org/wp-content/uploads/JB_HolidayTravel-1024x593.jpg) Before you hit the road or board a train, bus or plane this season, here’s a new way to make your trip safer: Protect yourself from the sun *while* you’re getting to your destination. You know when you’re on a long trip, stuck on the sunny side, and your ear or your arm feels like it’s on fire? It may actually be harming you. ### **Here’s How It Works** Two main types of ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause DNA damage in your skin, even from brief exposures. The shorter UVB rays are the ones that mainly cause sunburn, while the longer UVA rays lead totanning as well as skin aging, wrinkles, and even sunburn. Over time, the damage from either or both types of rays can lead to skin cancer.  While glass blocks UVB rays pretty well, it doesn’t block UVA rays. Windshields are treated to shield drivers from some UVA, but side, back and sunroof windows usually aren’t. So when you’re in your car, you should protect yourself and your family from that sunlight shining through the glass. The same holds true for windows on airplanes, trains and buses. Have you ever felt like you’re burning up sitting on the sunny side by an airplane window? Yes, you’re being bombarded by UVA up there, too, and maybe even more so because of being at high altitude. (Airline pilots and crew members tend to get more skin cancer than people in other professions.) ### **5 Travel Protection Tips** **1.** About 90 percent of all holiday travel is by car, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, so that’s where you’re probably getting the most exposure. Think sunscreen, protective clothing and sunglasses for all your family members before you load the luggage into the trunk. If you have babies, a hat and clothing are their best protection. You can start using sunscreen on them at the age of six months. **2.** Be sure to look for the words “broad spectrum” on the sunscreen label to make sure the formula protects against UVA rays as well as UVB. **3.** Consider installing transparent [UV-blocking window film](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/not-all-uv-rays-stay-outside-how-window-film-can-help-protect-you/) in your car for long-term peace of mind. **4.** Flyers, be sure to bring the maximum amount of sunscreen the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) allows (3.4 ounces) in your carry-on bag, so you have some in reserve to reapply. Pack larger containers of sunscreen in your checked luggage for the rest of your trip. **5.** Remember that no matter where you’re headed, whether it’s to a tropical beach, powdery slopes, or to see your loved ones in any season, you still need sun protection every day, all year long. Safe and happy travels to you! ##### Categories - [Ask the Expert](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/ask-the-expert/) - [Child Sun Safety](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/child-sun-safety/) - [Destination Healthy Skin](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/destination-healthy-skin/) - [Healthy Lifestyle](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/healthy-lifestyle/) - [Inside The Skin Cancer Foundation](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/inside-the-skin-cancer-foundation/) - [Monthly Newsletter](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/enews/) - [News & Research](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/news-research/) - [Skin Cancer Awareness Month](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/skin-cancer-awareness-month/) - [Skin Cancer Information](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/skin-cancer-information/) - [Skin Cancer Myths & Misinformation](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/skin-cancer-myths-misinformation/) - [Skin of Color](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/skin-of-color/) - [Tanning](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/tanning/) - [The Big See](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/the-big-see/) - [The Skin Cancer Foundation Journal](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/the-skin-cancer-foundation-journal/) - [This Is Skin Cancer](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/true-stories/) - [Why We Give](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/why-we-give/) ##### Follow Us [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/skincancerfoundation) [![x logo]()](http://twitter.com/SkinCancerOrg) [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-skin-cancer-foundation/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/skincancerorg/) [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/skincancerorg/) [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/user/SkinCancerFoundation) ##### [Sign up for newsletter](https://www.skincancer.org/newsletter-sign-up/)   ##### Popular Posts - [Ask the Expert: Does a High SPF Protect My Skin Better?](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/ask-the-expert-does-a-high-spf-protect-my-skin-better/) - [Why Does My Skin Peel When I Get Sunburned, and What Should I Do About It?](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/why-does-my-skin-peel-when-i-get-sunburned/) - [DIY Don’ts: Why At-Home Mole Removal Is a Bad Idea](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/diy-donts-why-at-home-mole-removal-is-a-bad-idea/) - [Amelanotic Melanoma: It Doesn’t Look Like Other Melanomas](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/amelanotic-melanoma-it-doesnt-look-like-other-melanomas/) - [Ask the Expert: Painful Moles](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/ask-expert-painful-moles/) - [How Dangerous is Melanoma? It’s All a Matter of Timing](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/dangerous-melanoma-matter-timing/) - [Sun Protection and Vitamin D](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/sun-protection-and-vitamin-d/) ![]() [![candid logo]()](https://www.guidestar.org/profile/shared/248c6aa7-9ca9-4489-81b8-69bd7ed2f3d5) Open menu Menu Close menu SearchSearch ```json {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/surprising-danger-planes-trains-automobiles\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/surprising-danger-planes-trains-automobiles\/"},"author":{"name":"Julie Bain","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#\/schema\/person\/e05673ef4d60255e455764b227bca2fa"},"headline":"A Surprising Danger in Planes, Trains and 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We empower people to take a proactive approach to daily sun protection and the early detection and treatment of skin cancer.","email":"info@skincancer.org","telephone":"(212) 725-5176","legalName":"The Skin Cancer Foundation"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#\/schema\/person\/e05673ef4d60255e455764b227bca2fa","name":"Julie Bain","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fe536aa5ff0c9cbdcd42c38e37ad1cc93837053b4f8aeebd2a8c52384fd104fb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fe536aa5ff0c9cbdcd42c38e37ad1cc93837053b4f8aeebd2a8c52384fd104fb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fe536aa5ff0c9cbdcd42c38e37ad1cc93837053b4f8aeebd2a8c52384fd104fb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Julie Bain"},"description":"As senior director of science & education, Julie Bain leads the effort to ensure that The Skin Cancer Foundation is at the forefront of all medical and scientific information related to educating the public and health-care professionals about skin cancer prevention, early detection and treatment. 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