Anyone who travels often recognizes the feeling. The warmth of sunlight through a car window. Bright light flooded a window seat. Heat rising from pavement after a long walk between terminals.
Skin notices those moments too.
Much of that warmth comes from infrared radiation, a longer wavelength of sunlight that sits just beyond what the eye can see. It does not cause a traditional sunburn, but research increasingly links repeated heat exposure to biological signals involved in visible skin aging.
Over time, that heat load can quietly add up - contributing to oxidative stress, lingering redness, and gradual changes in the skin’s structure.
For people who spend their lives moving between cities, flights, and daylight environments, this exposure isn’t occasional.
It’s routine.
Aelia was created by a pilot who understood that reality. The goal was never perfection. It was protection that fits real travel days.
The heat you feel through a window is doing more than warming your skin.
Infrared, Explained In Plain English
Sunlight is more complex than most people realize.
It includes ultraviolet radiation, visible light, and infrared energy, the warmth we physically feel on the skin.
Infrared is often divided into near-infrared and longer infrared ranges. Near-infrared sits closest to visible light and can reach deeper layers of skin than UVB.
Why that matters: those deeper layers are where collagen and elastin live - the structures that help skin stay firm and resilient.
When skin heats up, the effect isn’t purely surface level. Heat can influence cellular behavior, alter barrier balance, and increase oxidative stress within the skin.
How Infrared And Heat Can Contribute To Visible Aging
The most useful way to think about infrared exposure isn’t burn.
It’s stress.
Studies examining infrared-A wavelengths show that repeated exposure can trigger oxidative stress pathways and increase enzymes associated with collagen breakdown.
In practical terms, consistent heat exposure may gradually push skin toward:
• increased oxidative stress
• longer-lasting redness signals
• gradual collagen weakening
• uneven tone over time
Modern research increasingly describes photoaging as a full-spectrum issue, where ultraviolet, visible light, and infrared energy all contribute to the same downstream wear-and-tear processes.
The Sneaky Part: Heat Exposure Often Feels Harmless
Infrared exposure is easy to underestimate.
Unlike UV burns, heat rarely announces itself dramatically. Skin can feel warm while still looking perfectly fine in the moment.
That’s why it often slips under the radar during everyday routines:
• driving with sun on one side of the face
• working beside bright windows
• walking between terminals
• sitting in a window seat for hours
For aviation professionals and frequent travelers, those moments accumulate into a meaningful pattern of exposure.
What Sunscreen Can And Cannot Do For Infrared
Broad-spectrum sunscreen remains the foundation of protection.
UVA and UVB radiation are major drivers of visible aging and pigmentation changes, and mineral filters like zinc oxide provide reliable protection against wavelengths.
However, it is important to understand the limits. Most sunscreens are designed and tested primarily for UV protection. The skincare industry does not currently have a standardized rating system for infrared protection similar to SPF.
The practical takeaway is simple:
- Sunscreen protects against UV radiation.
- Managing heat exposure and supporting skin with antioxidants helps address other environmental stressors.
- Consistency matters more than intensity.
A Practical Routine For “Heat Days” That Still Feels Simple
Step One: Treat Warmth As A Signal, Not A Surprise
When skin feels warm, exposure is already happening. Instead of waiting until later, protection should happen in the moment.
Practical cues:
- The face feels flushed after a drive
- The window side of the face feels warmer than the aisle side
- The hands look pink after walking outside
- Skin feels tight after time in dry cabin air plus sun
Step Two: Build A Two-Layer Defense
Layer One: Daily UV Protection
A broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen forms the foundation of protection.
Mineral filters provide stable UV coverage and tend to be well tolerated by sensitive skin. For travelers and aviation crews, lightweight formulas that remain comfortable during long days are essential.
This philosophy is central to Aelia’s mineral-first approach: protection that feels wearable enough to reapply consistently.
Layer Two: Antioxidant and Barrier Support
While sunscreen focuses on UV, skincare can help support the skin’s response to environmental stress.
Dermatologists often recommend ingredients such as:
- Vitamin C and Vitamin E: Antioxidants that help neutralize oxidative stress.
- Niacinamide: Helps support barrier comfort and the look of redness
- Polyphenols and botanical antioxidants: Support against environmental stress.
- Barrier-supporting lipids and humectants Comfort when the skin is dry or heat-stressed.
Aelia’s positioning, sunscreen-as-skincare, leans into this reality: protection works best when the formula also supports comfort, hydration, and repeat wear.
Step Three: Use Small Habits to Reduce Heat Load
These take seconds, and they matter more than people think.
- Use shade proactively: hats, visors, window shades, and choose the less sun-facing side when possible
- Cool the skin after exposure: a cool rinse, cool compress, or chilled moisturizer can help skin feel calmer
- Avoid stacking heat on heat: hot yoga plus sunny patio plus sauna in the same day can be a lot for reactive skin
- Protect “quiet exposure” zones: hands, neck, ears, hairline, and the side of the face nearest the window
What This Looks Like On A Real Travel Day
A frequent traveler might begin the morning with a broad-spectrum mineral SPF applied to the face, neck, ears, and hands.
At the airport, that sunscreen stays within reach for touch-ups, especially before boarding when gates sit in direct sunlight.
On long flights, a window seat behaves much like daylight exposure. Shades help manage heat, and reapplication becomes useful when travel days stretch longer than expected.
After landing, the routine shifts toward recovery: gentle cleansing, hydration, and a simple antioxidant step.
Nothing complicated.
Just repeatable.
And repeatability is what protects skin over time.
Where Aelia Fits
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Born at 35,000 feet - where UV exposure is nearly double than that of sea level and cabin air is drier than the Sahara desert - AELIA was created by a pilot tired of sunscreens that felt greasy and non-hydrating. Featuring non-nano zinc oxide as the active ingredient (FDA GRASE-approved) for broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, and enriched with squalane, argan oil, and hyaluronic acid for lasting deep, lasting hydration. The result: a lightweight, travel-friendly mineral sunscreen that blends fast and layers well without greasiness. Dermatologist-tested and ideal for sensitive skin - built for altitude but made for everyday life. What started above the clouds became a daily ritual back on the ground. And now, it’s available for everyone. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does infrared radiation cause wrinkles?
Infrared and heat exposure are linked in research to oxidative stress and collagen-related pathways associated with visible aging over time.
Can sunscreen block infrared radiation?
Most sunscreens are designed and tested for UV protection. They are not typically labeled or standardized for infrared protection, so heat management and antioxidant support become practical add-ons.
Is infrared exposure worse at altitude or near windows?
UV exposure changes at altitude and near windows, and heat load can feel more intense in strong direct light. For frequent flyers and crews, window-side habits and daily SPF consistency remain the most practical approach.
What ingredients help with heat-stressed skin?
Antioxidants and barrier-supporting ingredients are commonly used to support skin comfort and reduce the look of redness. A simple routine tends to work better than stacking many new products at once.
What is the simplest routine for someone who travels often?
A consistent mineral SPF in the morning, easy access for reapplication, shade habits near windows, and a calming, hydrating routine after exposure.
Sources
- The Effects of Infrared Radiation on the Human Skin (Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine) — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/phpp.12899
- Effects of Infrared Radiation and Heat on Human Skin Aging (Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings) — https://www.jidsponline.org/article/S1087-0024%2815%2930504-9/fulltext
- Infrared Radiation-Induced Matrix Metalloproteinase in Human Skin (Journal of Investigative Dermatology) — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X15336241
- Low to Moderate Doses of Infrared A Irradiation Impair Extracellular Matrix (Skin Pharmacology and Physiology) — https://karger.com/spp/article/28/4/196/295748/Low-to-Moderate-Doses-of-Infrared-A-Irradiation
- Key targets and pathways in skin photoaging: a comprehensive review — https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950306X25000342
- Photoaging: Current Concepts on Molecular Mechanisms (American Journal of Clinical Dermatology) — https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40257-025-00933-z
- Sunscreen Ingredients for UV and Visible Light Protection (Dermatology Times) — https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/sunscreen-ingredients-for-uv-and-visible-light-protection
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