Q:My vacation's coming up, and I'm dreading the number that air travel does on my skin. Any tips?

A: I travel frequently and have gotten my air-travel routine down to a science. Try some of my favorite skin-saving measures:

• Plane air is extremely low-humidity, and it can take several days after landing for skin to return to normal. Don't land with dry, fragile skin! I always fly with a thicker-than-usual layer of moisturizer on my face (Nivea Visage Q10 Advanced Wrinkle Reducer is my current favorite). Sure, I may look a little greasy -- but it's worth it.

• For long flights, keep moisturizing en route: Every hour, spray facial water like La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water or Evian Brumisateur on your face, then reapply moisturizer. (Oily skin types might be able to skip this step, but it's a must for dry types.)

• Remember, UVA penetrates those tiny plane windows, putting you at a high risk for sun damage. Broad-spectrum sunscreen -- like Neutrogena Dry-Touch Sunblock or Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock -- is a must.

• In my experience, nothing ruins a manicure faster than air travel. That's why I ditch colored polish and apply Nailtiques Formula 2 Plus instead. It'll keep your nails from chipping as you drag your suitcase off the baggage-claim belt. Don't forget that hands are dehydrated by air travel, too. Apply hand cream every hour. Look for creams that include rich hydrators like shea butter, cocoa butter or olive oil.

Dr. Leslie Baumann is a board-certified dermatologist at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. E-mail: drb@drbaumann.com

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