Travel tips for anyone going through TSW
If you suffer from broken, flaking, weeping itchy and painful skin like me and many others going through TSW, you’d know travelling is going to look a little different for yourself than most others. Anything could set your skin off and take your mind away from enjoying beautiful moments in a foreign land.
When I travel I always make sure I am well-prepared beforehand. These are some tips and tricks I use to feel a little more comfortable on my trip.
1) Before the journey
Packing:
I always pack more clothing than I need on my trip. Depending on what your condition is like, you might be flaky, oozy or bleedy and you wouldn’t want to rewear blood or ooze-stained clothes or stay in them for very long. I always bring extra sets of clothing for this purpose.
I pack a set of bedsheets and towels that are washed in my own laundry detergent. This takes up loads of baggage space but has saved my skin so many times. Hotels and Airbnbs tend to use harsh detergents for cleaning due to the volume of customers they cater for. It would be best to bring your own sheets and towels to prevent your skin from reacting to these chemicals.
For the same reason above, I always bring my own body wash and shampoo. I stay away from using the soaps and shampoos provided in the accommodation, they are usually highly fragranced!
I pack an empty bottle and a face cloth for the flight. Alternatively you could use a spray/mist bottle with water. This is for when my skin gets dry on the airplane. (Explained below)
Pack a set of clothing, a small towel and bottle in your carry-on bag in case you need fresh clothing halfway through your flight
Pack a hat, sunglasses, loose long sleeved tops and trousers if heading to somewhere sunny.
Bring a hand-held fan if travelling to hot and humid countries.
Pack gloves, scarves and a hat if going to a winter destination. A mask is sometimes helpful. Covering your skin up helps prevent it from drying up in the cold.
Booking your accommodation:
For longer trips, I look for hotels, serviced apartments or airbnbs that have a washing machine. I wash my clothes with no detergent in the washing machine provided, but you can bring a little bottle of your own detergent if you like. If you do not bring your own detergent, be prepared that detergent residue from previous users/uses could be on your clothing. My skin is a little stronger and can tolerate this, however if you are very sensitive it is best to bring your own.
Nowadays there are accommodations that are allergy-friendly and use gentler products, you may search around for these accommodations if they are available at the destination you are going to.
When my skin was extremely dry, I would look for a place that has windows I could easily open. This was necessary when my skin went through a period when it could not handle air-conditioning/heating.
2) During the travel
On the flight:
When my skin gets dry on the airplane, I fill my empty bottle at the airport or buy a bottle of water on the flight, wet the face towel with the water and pat on my skin to “reset” it. You can also use a mist/spray bottle on your skin. I then apply some CJay Serum. If the skin on my body is dry, I do this in the bathroom. I stay away from moisturisers as I have a history of hardened skin, so I stick to the CJAY serum if I feel like I need to apply a product to seal the moisture in.
Depending on how well your skin is, you may use a very gentle/lightweight moisturiser that does not cause your skin to turn red. One that we always recommend for TSW patients in Skin Solace Clinic is Physiogel AI Soothing Cream (White and red packaging). (This step is only suitable for very mild TSW, the ideal is still to avoid moisturising).
I pat my skin down with a damp towel and change into a fresh set of clothes midway through the flight if I feel flaky/oozy. Please use bottled water/drinkable water for the damp towel. If it is a long flight, I make an effort to change my clothes regardless, to prevent feeling icky and itchy as a result.
3) During the holiday
Use the bedsheets and towels you brought everyday.
Plan your itinerary loosely without packing too much in. Watch your energy levels throughout the day. Lack of rest and sleep are factors causing TSW flares! Head back early if you start feeling fatigued
Avoid places with known allergens such as stores carrying fragranced products, animal cafes, barbecue restaurants etc. If there are fragrances in your room, speak with the staff about it. Remove them from the room if they can be physically moved e.g. diffuser reeds.
If you are going to a winter destination and suffer from cracked skin, spot moisturise these areas instead of applying moisturiser all over. The ideal would be to avoid moisturiser completely, however it is understandable if this is too difficult or painful. Use the spray bottle to spritz your skin and rehydrate it if needed. Wearing a mask can help prevent facial skin from drying out or being exposed to the elements.
Be cautious of over-exposure to sun: wear your hat and sunglasses at all times, wear long sleeved, loose fitting cotton tops and trousers on all days, even if you are able to wear sunscreen. In fact, it would be best to avoid wearing sunscreen as they tend to irritate TSW skin.
4) After the trip
Make sure to leave ample time between returning and going back to work/school to let your body rest and recharge. This is important for preventing flares caused my fatigue. Especially important if there is a large time difference!
Resume your regular skin routine before you went away. If you were not moisturising or applying sunscreen before holiday, go back to that! Moisturisers and sunscreens are not suitable to use long term for TSW skin that is still recovering.
I picked up these tips throughout my travels during TSW; a family trip to Okinawa in Japan, a 6-month student exchange in Austria, a beach getaway in Bali and many more. I have missed trips with family when my skin was in a bad place, but I tried my best to not let it stop me from enjoying holidays. There were many trials and errors in learning how to care for my skin while having fun. I hope that this post saves you some of that trouble and helps you travel in peace!
Crowdsourced tips from the community:
From @tsw_hollie:
Bring a ziploc bag into your flight and ask for ice from the attendants to make an on-the-go ice pack if you are feeling itchy or flushed on the flight
Leave a bottle of water in the freezer of your hotel/Airbnb for an itch-cooler when you get back