4 Essentials For Travelling with a Skin Condition

Share now or save for later

Travel. Remember that? While our most recent travel experiences may feel like distant memories the world of travel is set to slowly start coming back to life this year.

In England, it’s hoped that holidaymakers will be able to staycation in self-contained accommodation by mid-April with hotels, hostels, B&Bs and international leisure travel set to resume no earlier than 17th May.

While the governments of Wales, Scotland and Ireland are still yet to make a decision on their ‘roadmaps out of lockdown’, it’s thought this information will become available in coming weeks. Many are hopeful their plans will align with those laid out by UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

Our skin is often the last thing we think about when we travel, but as I have dermographism, I have to be more mindful of my skin when travelling. Also known as ‘skin writing’, dermographism is a form of chronic spontaneous urticaria. What this means is that my skin has a tendency to get incredibly itchy at times and often in response to pressure; even the lightest form of pressure, including clothing, can cause a reaction. My dermographism also means that my skin gets very dry and for this reason, travelling with all the necessary skincare essentials is an absolute must for me.

Here are just a few of my must-have skincare essentials to pack into your suitcase, if you’ll be travelling with skin condition.

4 skincare essentials I never leave home without

Anti-histamines and medication

As I take prescribed anti-histamines up to three times per day and I have to inject myself once per month with omalizumab, travelling with my medication is an absolute must. I only take as much medication as I’ll need for the duration of my trip and I always carry my prescription with me, just in case I’m ever asked to produce it.

Thankfully, I’ve not yet been away from home for long enough to travel with omalizumab, but if I needed to, I’d be sure to check with my chosen airline in advance. I’m sure it would be possible, although my medication would likely need to be refrigerated for the duration of the flight and the airline may have a specific policy in place around travelling with needles.

In any case, if you need to travel with any kind of prescribed medication, I strongly recommend checking your chosen airline’s flight policies – as well as the rules in place at the destination you’ll be travelling to – in advance of your trip. Don’t forget to research the benefits of proper medication disposal before your trip, too – it’s much better for the environment to dispose of any medical products properly and, if you’ll be travelling with injections like omalizumab, you’ll need to check on how best to dispose of the syringes.

Body moisturiser or lotion

A quality body moisturiser or lotion is my number one skincare essential for travelling. My dermagraphism means that my skin has a tendency to get very dry, so I like to use a decent body moisturiser on a daily basis.

Personally, I prefer a body moisturiser like Cetaphil’s Body Cream rather than a lotion as my skin gets so dry but if you’re on holiday, you might prefer to use a lighter lotion or moisturising spray. Similarly, many people find Korean skincare products ideal for travelling with, as not only are such products often highly rated, but they’re often streamlined and compactly sized making them ideal for travelling with.

While many sunscreens have decent moisturisers built-in, it always pays to pack a dedicated body moisturiser or lotion so you can re-hydrate your skin if it gets dry during the evenings.

Micellar water and resuable cotton pads

While many people prefer to use a daily cleansing wash or soap to cleanse their skin, I find they have a tendency to dry out my skin, leaving it prone to itching.

I used to swear by using cleansing wipes when travelling, seeing it as an easy and quick way to keep my skin clean on the road. Since I began using micellar water, however, I’ve never looked back. I love how quickly it removes my make-up after a long day, without irritating my skin and as I use it with reusable cotton face pads, it’s far more environmentally friendly and cost-effective too.

Just make sure you tape the lid down with some sellotape before you pack it into your suitcase to avoid any potential spillages!

Sunscreen

We all know how important it is to protect our skin when we’re in the sun, yet so many of us forget to slather on the sunscreen, with some of us choosing not to wear it altogether in the hope of building up a tan.

As I’m quite fair-skinned, if I don’t remember to slather up before spending time in the sun – regardless of how hot it is – you can guarantee I’ll be paying for it the next day; my skin will be dry, burnt and sore. So, for me, a reliable sunscreen is an absolute must for travelling.

Another great way of discovering new beauty products which work for your skin is via a beauty box subscription. Looking for more ideas on how best to care for your skin while travelling? Check out my recent post.

Share now or save for later