Long-Haul Flights: DVT Prevention, Skincare & Dry Skin Tips

Date: 2018-05-26

4 Simple Ways to Prevent DVT (Economy Class Syndrome)

DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) — sometimes called economy class syndrome — occurs when blood clots form in the deep veins of the legs during prolonged immobility in a cramped space. These clots can travel to the lungs and cause serious, potentially fatal complications.

1. Stay hydrated. The instinct to avoid drinking (to minimise toilet trips) has the opposite effect: it thickens the blood and increases the risk of clotting. Drink water consistently throughout the flight, regardless of inconvenience.

2. Move regularly. If walking the cabin is impractical, rotate your feet and ankles, flex and point your toes, and stretch your calves and hips in your seat. Small movements make a real difference.

3. Wear compression socks. Compression hosiery supports the pumping action of the leg muscles and significantly reduces clotting risk. Worth using for any flight over 5 hours.

4. Breathe deeply. Diaphragmatic (abdominal) breathing — slow, deliberate, through the nose — massages the deep abdominal tissues and helps move venous blood back upward through the body. Visualise the movement as you breathe.

What I Always Carry On Board

My cabin bag (a mid-size Longchamp nylon tote — light, roomy, practical) contains:

• Valuables and travel documents
• Cosmetics pouch: light powder, lip balm, multi-use cream or oil, hairbrush, and for long-haul: a sheet mask, eye drops and an essential oil roller
• iPad and phone
• A light scarf or thin jumper for when the cabin gets cold

Managing Cabin Dryness

Aircraft cabins are extremely dry — humidity reportedly below 10%. Short flights (2–3 hours) are manageable without special measures. Flights over 6 hours require preparation.

My routine for a long-haul departure: in the morning, apply generous hydration (serum and moisturiser layered), then the lightest possible make-up (loose powder, a touch of blusher for colour, brows, lip balm). The idea is to leave the skin well-hydrated underneath, not sealed under heavy product.

After the first meal service and the rush on the toilets, when the cabin lights dim, I use a cleansing wipe to remove the light make-up, apply a sheet mask, and leave it on for 15–20 minutes. This sounds conspicuous, but everyone around you is either watching films or sleeping. Nobody notices.

After removing the mask: a richer moisturiser (I use travel-sized samples — ideal for cabin use), followed by a facial oil if I have one. Then light make-up again. I try to finish this routine about 2 hours after take-off — while the cabin is still fairly dim and the rear toilets are less busy.

Since reaching my 50s, fine lines on the face after a long flight became a real concern; this routine has prevented it.

Tip: Use the rear toilets at the back of the cabin — there are typically 3–4 grouped together at the back, so even if you take a few minutes, you're not holding up a single queue.

Skin's Best Friends: Oats and Green Tea

Oats contain a compound called avenanthramide, which is anti-inflammatory and soothing for the skin — responsible for the traditional use of oatmeal in treating eczema and dermatitis. When I travel, I always carry Nairn's oatcakes (available in organic varieties) for a light, skin-friendly snack that doesn't weigh me down.

Green tea has remarkable properties both internally and topically. A clinical case study found that topical application of green tea arrested the progression of skin cancer in female patients — suggesting strong protective properties for the skin's surface. Drunk regularly, green tea is associated with reduced hay fever and seasonal allergy symptoms: randomised trials found that drinking Japanese benifuuki green tea (approximately 3 cups daily) starting 6–10 weeks before pollen season significantly reduced allergy symptoms.

For anyone who travels frequently, both are worth incorporating into your daily routine.

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