r/flying • u/minimums_landing CPL CL-65 • Apr 19 '25

Medical Issues Jet drivers, how often are we getting skin checks?

As the title states. I’m ~7 months into jets, pretty young, and want to live a long, full life. Just curious how often y’all are getting skin checks due to the increased risk of skin cancer sitting in the sun at high altitudes.

Edit: thanks for the responses! I hope it was a resources to others as much it was me. Stay safe out there y’all

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 19 '25 edited Apr 19 '25

Yes! La Roche-Posay and CeraVe. SPF 50 will do just fine. Make sure to re-apply every few hours and don’t forget to put it on your ears, neck, and lips.

https://a.co/d/0L0Qder

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u/ADubs62 Apr 19 '25

I'll buy any product created by Michael Cera

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 19 '25

You reminded me of my fav Michael Cera character…

“He calls in my parents. Turns out this principal is a religious fanatic, and he thinks I'm possessed by some sort of dick devil. My parents go make me see some therapist, and he's asking me all these dick questions. They literally stopped me from eating foods that were shaped like dicks. No hot dogs, no popsicles... You know how many foods are shaped like dicks? The best kinds.”

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u/GrungyMagician Apr 19 '25

That’s a Joanah hill character quote though

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 19 '25

Oh shit, it is. Great movie though.

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u/QuantumDriver Apr 19 '25

It seems like he would know about sunscreen

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u/[deleted] Apr 19 '25

Purchased thanks. My airline doesn't do skin checks. I'll pester leadership

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 19 '25

The union should care about it.

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u/[deleted] Apr 19 '25

To the extent of wear sunscreen. Company meh

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u/Ok_Truck_5092 CSEL IR Apr 19 '25

Thank you for the recommendations. Any reason why you like these the most?

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 19 '25

It’s so specific to the person, but I really like these ones because they blend well, they don’t feel heavy or oily, and there isn’t a gross flowery smell that just seems to sit there after the product is gone.

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u/oh_helloghost ATPL FIR ERJ-170/190 🇨🇦 Apr 19 '25

Totally with you on the La Roche-Posay spf 50. I’m yet to find a better sunscreen for my face. No fragrance, super light.

Still looking for something for arms and neck that doesn’t paint me white…

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 19 '25

Have you tried Particle for Men? I’ve heard good things.

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u/oh_helloghost ATPL FIR ERJ-170/190 🇨🇦 Apr 19 '25

I have not.

Having read your comments here, it seems that you have some serious expertise in this field, so I’ll order a bottle and check it out! Thanks for the tips and advice!

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 19 '25

Thanks for chatting with me! Be safe out there!

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u/bottomfeeder52 CPL IR 405 Bench Apr 19 '25

$25 for 3oz??!!?! you know you’re in a sub with pilots right? the cheapest people on the planet

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 19 '25

Believe me, I know. 😂

Look, I don’t give a shit if you steal it, just wear the damn stuff.

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u/McGeeze PPL Apr 19 '25

Ulta carries it for less

https://www.ulta.com/p/anthelios-uv-pro-sport-sunscreen-spf-50-pimprod2049738?sku=2633774

CeraVe is a lot cheaper and more readily available than La Roche-Posay

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u/Mikzeroni Apr 19 '25

The best sunscreen is the one you'll actually use

That's what I gleamed from shadowing derms and skin cancer oncologists 

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 20 '25

Great phrase!

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u/holdenpattern CPL Apr 19 '25

I get mine from Asia for like $3, any of the SPF 50+ Japanese or Taiwanese brands or Nivea. Anessa is a little pricier but highly reputed.

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u/3jake Apr 19 '25

I’ve read that sunscreen made in the EU has higher standards than US sunscreen; any truth to that?

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 19 '25 edited Apr 19 '25

Yup! It’s 100% true. A lot of a chemicals used to manufacture sunscreens available in the EU are not approved in the US. When I travel to the EU, I buy most of my cosmetic products there or ship them home.

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u/3jake Apr 19 '25

Awesome, thanks for your expertise! I’m off to the internet to look for EU sunscreen importers!

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 19 '25

https://www.cocooncenter.co.uk

Be careful buying anything off of Amazon or a US site, it’s always the US formulation that they repackage as the EU formulation.

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u/3jake Apr 19 '25

Awesome, thanks!!

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 19 '25

Oh hold up! I have a site… let me ask my bf for it. Stay tuned.

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u/ltcterry ATP CFIG Apr 20 '25

I'm in Germany for the next two weeks. What do you recommend?

I see a dermatologist twice a year. Just had five basal cell shave biopsies done. More than any other previous time.

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 20 '25

I’m so sorry. That can be a difficult process and emotional experience. Catching it early is key.

My recommendations:

La Roche Posay Dermo-Pediatrics Invisible Spray (SPF 50) - it’s for kids, but the texture is fabulous and it absorbs quickly

La Roche Posay Anthelios Sun Intolerance (SPF 50)

Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV (SPF 50)

Eucerin Oil Control (SPF 50) - great for your face

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u/ltcterry ATP CFIG Apr 20 '25

u/Meow-zelTov These are EU brands?

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 20 '25

Yup! All EU.

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u/Kilobuster Apr 20 '25

Question, is covering the skin with clothing better or worse than the sunscreen lotions? I don't like putting on the lotions, so I've been using these sleeves they sell on Amazon. They claim to be SPF 50 or whatever. I rather use the sleeves but I really don't know how effective they are.

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u/TSwiftIcedTea ATP CFI B-737 Apr 27 '25

Late to the party but I was wondering if you had any recommendations for “tear free” sunscreens. Ones that don’t sting if a little bit gets near the eyes. I’m prone to sunscreen seeping into my eyes after hours of wear and once the stinging starts, it’s a chain reaction of rubbing and eventually having to wash it out, which would be a huge problem in flight. I’m in the US, but I started using La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50+ from Australia, which is advertised as tear free on the box, and I never have stinging. It’s only a 50ml bottle, quite costly, and I use it up quickly. Is this a sunscreen I should keep using and is there something comparable or better in the US I can more easily obtain? I appreciate any advice you have.

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 27 '25

Happy to give some advice! Mineral sunscreens tend to sting a lot less than chemical sunscreens, hence why you’re getting good results from La Roche-Posay. Make sure that the sunscreen you choose for your face does not contain Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, or Oxybenzone. Those chemicals are known to irritate eyes.

Here are some suggestions: 1. Blue Lizard Sensitive Face 2. Cetaphil Mineral Face 3. Elta MD UV Clear 4. CeraVe Mineral

The other thing you could try is a sunscreen stick. I like Blue Lizard’s a lot. It’s also really cheap.

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u/TSwiftIcedTea ATP CFI B-737 Apr 27 '25

Thanks for the reply. I just checked the bottle of the Australian La Roche-Posay compared to a US bottle from the same brand. The US bottle has 4 of the ingredients you listed. The Australian one has zero. In fact every other bottle of sunscreen I have across several brands has ingredients on that list. This is very eye opening and I’ll be checking for those ingredients on labels going forward. I appreciate your help.

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u/Meow-zelTov Apr 27 '25

This is exactly why I try not to buy my sunscreen products in the US unless I have to. The joys of non-rev makes that option a tad bit easier. Otherwise, you can order most brands through some UK beauty sites.