When you’re away from home, it’s easy for your skin-care routine to go out the window. But traveling is one of the times when your skin needs attention the most. “Traveling can wreak havoc on the skin,” says Deanne Mraz, MD, the president and a cofounder of Modern Dermatology in Westport, Connecticut, and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine.
Most travel methods involve exposure to dry air, but air travel in particular can be dehydrating. Dehydration of the air doesn’t lend itself to healthy-looking skin. “It makes fine lines and wrinkles appear more prominently and can leave skin looking dull,” Dr. Mraz says.
There’s also a good chance you’ll encounter some stress along the way, whether you hit an unexpected traffic jam in the car or are in a rush to board your flight. This can trigger an inflammatory response in the body, which can exacerbate conditions such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis, Mraz says. Increased stress might also cause breakouts, says Marisa Garshick, MD, a New York City–based dermatologist.
Luckily, all this can be avoided if you plan ahead. We asked several dermatologists for tips on what they do to keep their skin healthy during travel. Here’s what they recommend.
7 Easy Home Hacks For Healthy Skin
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1. Stay Hydrated Internally to Retain Moisture Externally
The best way to counter the drying humidity levels you’ll experience in flight? Drink water. One study found that young, physically active women who drank adequate amounts of water showed signs of improved skin hydration. Mraz says to start prepping early. Divide your body weight by two and drink that many ounces of water per day on each of the days leading up to and during your travels, she says.
2. Keep Your Lips Hydrated With an Ointment
It’s easy to overlook your lips when you’re in the midst of a long travel day, but that’s a mistake, Dr. Garshick says. “Long days of travel can dry out the skin [and] also the lips, so it’s extra important to keep the lips well hydrated,” she says. She recommends petroleum-based ointments that form a barrier on your lips to prevent moisture evaporation, for use en route.
3. Wear Sunscreen Even on Travel Days
If you’re headed to a tropical locale, you’ve likely got your sunscreen and beach hat all packed. It may not occur to you to slather on sunscreen when you’ll be spending most of the day in the airport or on a plane, but it’s a good habit to get into. “Although sunscreen should be applied every day, it is essential on travel days, especially on a plane when you’re even closer to the sun’s ultraviolet rays,” Garshick says.
One study investigating a potential reason for the high rates of melanoma and other skin cancers among airline pilots found that they had elevated levels of proteins in their blood indicating DNA damage (a risk factor for cancer), possibly due to increased exposure to ultraviolet light.
Protect your skin by putting on sunscreen before takeoff. No matter which type you choose (chemical or mineral, tinted or untinted) aim for at least SPF 30, and reapply every couple of hours.
4. Try to Bring Your Usual Products With You
That way, you won’t be asking your skin to adjust to all-new products on top of the other stressors associated with travel. “If you know your skin-care routine works, you should stick with it, even when traveling,” Garshick says. Mraz advises seeking out sample-size versions of your essentials. That’s a better option than simply pouring your oils and serums into plastic containers. “Most skin care needs to be stored in a specific way to preserve its effectiveness, so don’t pour it into a travel-size bottle without doing your homework first,” she says. Most vitamin C serums, for instance, are best kept in a cool, dark place away from extreme heat (which is why they’re often sold in dark bottles). Basics, like cleansers, usually do just fine in a travel-size bottle, though, Garshick says.
5. Avoid Using Potentially Irritating Hotel Skin-Care Products
“In this day and age of restrictions on bringing creams and lotions on planes, many people will leave their usual products at home and use whatever is provided to them at a hotel or resort,” says Scott Flugman, MD, a dermatologist with Northwell Health in Huntington, New York. But it’s best to skip those little lotions and soaps stocked in your hotel bathroom. “These products frequently contain fragrances and preservatives that may further compound the usual travel-related dry skin problems,” Dr. Flugman says. This is especially crucial if you have sensitive skin, Garshick says.
It’s also a good idea to bring your own small travel-size bottles of nourishing shampoo and conditioner, as hotel brands could dry out your scalp and cause itching, dryness, and irritation. You can also use a hair mask when you arrive at your hotel after traveling, to lock in moisture.
6. Prepare for Acne Breakouts
Even if you follow all the advice above, there’s still a chance your skin will act up while you’re away, so you’ll want to be prepared to treat breakouts. In particular, stress, sleep deprivation, atmospheric changes,and bacteria from the surfaces our hands and face touch can cause even the most perfect skin to break out, research has shown.Tanya Nino, MD, a dermatologist with St. Joseph Heritage Medical Group in Orange, California, carries a small tube of 10 percent benzoyl peroxide to deal with breakouts.
7. Treat Yourself to a Sheet Mask or Facial Mist While en Route
There’s no shame in giving your skin some love while you’re on the road. “I love to treat my skin to a hydrating mask on a long flight,” Mraz says. Patricia Farris, MD, a dermatologist based in Metairie, Louisiana, advises packing a hydrating facial mist and spraying it periodically throughout your trip to keep skin moisturized. Sure, you may get a few questioning looks from fellow passengers, but the joke’s on them when your skin is hydrated and smooth as the plane touches down.
The Takeaway
Traveling can cause your skin to act up, but dermatologists say there are simple steps you can take to lessen the disruptive effects of long flights, drives, and unfamiliar climates.
Focusing on the basics, such as hydration, stress reduction, and sun protection can go a long way in terms of keeping your skin calm.
Sticking to your usual skin-care routine by bringing your own products rather than using the unfamiliar (and potentially bothersome) options provided to you might also save you from skin aggravation.
Preparing for the worst — whether it’s an unexpected breakout or the desert-like air on a plane — can make traveling easier on your skin.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
Załęcki P et al. Impact of Lifestyle on Differences in Skin Hydration of Selected Body Areas in Young Women. Cosmetics. January 22, 2024.
Susan Bard, MD, is a clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine and an adjunct clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York City. Her professional interests include Mohs micrographic surgery, cosmetic and laser procedures, and immunodermatology.
She is a procedural dermatologist with the American Board of Dermatology and a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery.
Dr. Bard has written numerous book chapters and articles for many prominent peer-reviewed journals, and authored the textbook The Laser Treatment of Vascular Lesions.
Moira Lawler is a journalist who has spent more than a decade covering a range of health and lifestyle topics, including women's health, nutrition, fitness, mental health, and travel. She received a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two young children, and a giant brown labradoodle.
