Skin Care and Travel: Taking Healthy Habits with You
Travel can take a toll and put additional stress on our nerves, but it can also take a toll on our skin health. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, skin care should not be neglected; therefore, it is important to get familiar with the impact of travel on skin and how to be proactive while on-the-go.
Beginning your Skin Care Itinerary
Whether your journey is by air, road or rail, it is certain that your skin undergoes changes proving the negative impact of your travel on it. There are many causes that contribute to these negative effects on the skin, in particular the facial skin. Thus, since the face is exposed to different temperatures in different places, it is of the utmost importance to construct a skincare plan before departing.
Tips While Traveling
= Get skin in “good shape” by practicing a daily skin care routine of washing, exfoliating and moisturizing.
= Drink lots of water to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized.
= Practice relaxation and breathing exercises to handle stress you may feel.
= Wash your face before getting to your place of departure.
= Avoid wearing makeup if possible. Since it is recommended to moisturize during transit, having makeup on may clog pores and cause a breakout.
= Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize! The air systems on planes and even trains can be very dry due to the lack of humidity and cabin pressure, therefore consider packing a moisturizing facial mist. These are ideal since you do not have to leave your seat to re-moisturize your face every hour or so.
= Drink MORE water and avoid coffee, alcohol and salt. Teas are also great to drink!
Finally, prepare yourself in advance and take a proper supply of the cosmetics you plan to use. However, if you are flying, keep in mind the airline size restriction. Make sure you have a one-quart Zip Lock bag and that none of the products inside are over 3.4 ounces. When packing this bag, make sure to include the two main skin care products:
= Cleanser: Air travel is drying to skin, so choose a non-foaming cleanser or cleansing milk that will not strip needed fats from the skin. Cleansing wipes are also a good choice.
= Sunscreen/Moisturizer: Sunscreen should be used regardless of climate conditions. A combination of sunscreen/moisturizer will work for most skin types.
Observe Climatic Conditions
It is important to have an idea on the climate conditions of your travel destination in order to take the appropriate skin care products. Cold mountain air will affect your skin differently than the moist salty air at a tropical beach. If you are in a cooler climate, consider bringing a thicker moisturizer and night cream.
If it is a warmer location, you should have sunscreen (with appropriate sun protection factor) to fight the aging effects of UV rays. Additionally, lips can dry and chap in any kind of weather. It is advisable to avoid wearing longer lasting lipsticks. Moreover, pack medicated lip balm and apply it regularly- even over lipstick to keep lips moisturized and healthy.
Furthermore, bring your own shampoos, soaps and facial cleansers as the ones provided in hotels/resorts may cause a reaction with your skin. Although it is nice to receive a free bottle of lotion or soap, sometimes these samples are new and untested and can cause breakouts. Therefore, bring a travel sample of your lotion, facial cleanser and body wash to be safe.
Traveling anywhere can be a dirty experience. Therefore, if you choose to carry hand sanitizer make sure it contains aloe or other moisturizing ingredients. Moreover, use a moisturizing hand lotion or cream afterward to help avoid drying hands out (also occurs with hard water or harsh soap).
Undoubtedly, it is difficult to avoid disrupting our normal routine when traveling. Whether it is our diet, exercise regime or sleeping pattern, keeping ‘consistent’ is a challenge, but a worthy one. Our team of skin care professionals at Knoxville Dermatology Group and Medi-Spa at Knoxville Dermatology Group urge you to take this information and stay motivated about skin care wherever you may find yourself traveling this summer.
Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to gain more knowledge about your skin so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential!
Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865.690.9467.
