Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Ground & Other Ops Forums > Medical & Health
Reload this Page >

Sunburnt on the Flightdeck

Wikiposts
Search
Medical & Health News and debate about medical and health issues as they relate to aircrews and aviation. Any information gleaned from this forum MUST be backed up by consulting your state-registered health professional or AME. Due to advertising legislation in various jurisdictions, endorsements of individual practitioners is not permitted.

Sunburnt on the Flightdeck

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 20th Jul 2011, 13:46
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Planet Earth for a short visit
Posts: 614
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sunburnt on the Flightdeck

A new experience for me and I wondered if anyone else has suffered from this?

After a 2 sector day, both of which had the sunshine on my side the whole time, my left lower arm and back of my left hand sunburnt! I look like a taxi driver!

In 15 years I've never had this reaction before. Any comments?
silverhawk is offline  
Old 20th Jul 2011, 14:49
  #2 (permalink)  
Está servira para distraerle.
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: In a perambulator.
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
It's possible that the sun burn could be as a result of the decrease of melanin in the skin as advanced old age creeps up. There's also some correlation between melanin and the onset of Parkinsons disease but that's a little complicated and unlikely to have much relevance. Another cause for this strangely lop sided sun burn might be that perhaps you went to sleep for a significant portion of the flights with your elbow propped against the window slide and your head in the cupped palm of your hand. Of course, had you been awake and a line training captain, you could have toasted the other side on the cruise home.
Hope that helps.
Toodle pip.
cavortingcheetah is offline  
Old 23rd Jul 2011, 04:18
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: gold coast QLD australia
Age: 86
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Go to a retired pilots reunion in Australia, and they look like Swiss cheese! The dermatologists have made a fortune attacking these pilots skin cancers. Always use a SP 30 on face and arms, or you will join them.
teresa green is offline  
Old 31st Jul 2011, 08:20
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sydney
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mmmm here's me thinking all along that glass prevented UV rays from getting through. Are you sure the sunburn came from this, and not from your layover?

btw. mentioning Parkinson's in this thread (above) was ridiculous. It's no more relevant to your question than saying your sunburn may be related to a previously undiagnosed undescended third testicle.
lofo101 is offline  
Old 31st Jul 2011, 11:24
  #5 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Planet Earth for a short visit
Posts: 614
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lofo 101, Hi.

I work for Ryanair mate, no layovers involved ever!

UK to Kos, 4 hours, southbound, sun on my left arm the whole way. 25 minute turnaround then return to UK. Northbound again sun on me the whole way.

About half way home I felt as if my arm was burning but discounted that as possible because in 15 years never experienced sunburn before.

Next morning left forearm sunburnt and back of left hand covered in heat rash pimples and also burnt! Irritation only reducing now.

I too thought the glass gave some protection and I'm sure it does. Has anyone else ever had this reaction?
silverhawk is offline  
Old 31st Jul 2011, 15:35
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Perth - Western Australia
Age: 75
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Plain glass only stops UVB rays, which commonly cause sunburn on the surface of the skin. However, glass does not stop UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin and which cause much more skin damage.
Anyone who has lived for extended periods in a hot sunny climate, such as Outback Australia, or the Middle East, or any similar climatic region, knows full well that you can get sunburnt through untinted glass.
You would be well advised to use SPF30 rated sunscreen on exposed skin, or carry some tinted material that you can position between you and the sun, on the window.
onetrack is offline  
Old 31st Jul 2011, 18:49
  #7 (permalink)  
Está servira para distraerle.
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: In a perambulator.
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Spent more than a few years flying around Africa and always wore a cotton content long sleeve shirt with the cuffs turned back. Sometimes a little warm perhaps but never an unintentional sunburn and no Parkinsons either although Alzheimers appears to be on its relentless way. Did I say the sunburn could have been caused by a third undescended testicle or was it an undescended third testicle? It's of no consequence because either way I'll bet they're jolly painful when they shake.
cavortingcheetah is offline  
Old 31st Jul 2011, 20:47
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Germany
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi,

have you had exactly the same setup before? I mean:

- Same machine, not type of. Same piece of plane.
- Same route, same duration of sun exposure.
- Same amount of sun rays in the - say - 24-48 hours before.

If so, you can rule out that it was a factor from the outside.

This would leave the, improbable but not impossible, chance of a strange medical condition as said before: testicle, parkinson, diabetes etc...

Another possibility would be, that you changed something in your cosmetics, say: after shave, lotion, shampoo etc.

Last but not least: Some kinds of herbs, drugs and foods can change your sensitivity against the sun.

I wouldn't mind a lot if this was a single occurence, if this repeats itself, take a closer look and talk to your favourite medicine man :-)
iwrbf is offline  
Old 1st Aug 2011, 09:44
  #9 (permalink)  

Plastic PPRuNer
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Cape Town
Posts: 1,898
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"....strange medical condition..."

If I look out the window, I'm more likely to see a sparrow than a canary....

Use a good sunblock or you'll end up like all the old pilots, yachtsmen, farmers etc. that I treat - lots of sun-damage.
Mac the Knife is offline  
Old 1st Aug 2011, 14:00
  #10 (permalink)  
Está servira para distraerle.
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: In a perambulator.
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
And furthermore!
When I told my daughter that I might have to have a skin graft from one of my three or four buttocks to cover my cranial bald patch, she had an hysterical laughing fit.
Turns out she always wanted a legitimate excuse to call her dear old Papa 'Butt Head'! Nasty little wretch of a wench!
cavortingcheetah is offline  
Old 1st Aug 2011, 19:36
  #11 (permalink)  
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When you say tinted piece of material, how about the sun visor?
PPRuNeUser0204 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.