When I’m packing for a trip, I always think of the essentials: my passport, my cameras, and most importantly,

My eczema.

Eczema on its own is already hard to deal with, but sometimes the added stress of travelling with eczema can make a trip so much harder to enjoy while trying to manage your skin.

Let’s start with understanding what eczema is first. It’s an inflammatory skin condition that can affect any part of your body causing itching, dryness, scaling, and redness. The severity can vary from being mild spots on small areas of the body, to affecting the entire body and causing major discomfort. I have been on both ends of this spectrum so I understand how difficult it can be to do every day activities with eczema. 

There were times where I would have to avoid certain activities out of fear of aggravating my eczema and ruining my vacation. I had to avoid swimming in the ocean because I knew it would make my entire body itch afterwards. I would have to cut my days out in the sun short because the heat and sweat would bring me to the point of scratching till I bleed. I would even have to give up on delicious foods and desserts because I couldn’t be sure if they contained something that would flare up my eczema or not. 

I bet a lot of you eczema sufferers would understand. 

The stress of travelling with eczema can sometimes make a trip less enjoyable. But it doesn’t have to take control of your trip. Here are some of the ways I have managed to keep my skin from flaring up while on vacation.

Keep Your Eczema Skin Routine

If you’ve had eczema for a long time it’s likely that you have come up with a skincare routine that you know doesn’t aggravate your skin. This includes your use of creams, medications, and generally any skincare product that agrees with your skin.

Hotels will usually provide soap and bodywash for you, but personally for me the fragrances or if they contain coconut oil can make my eczema very itchy and cause me to lose a lot of sleep. I always make sure to pack my own in travel sized containers so that I don’t end up having to buy a whole new bottle while I’m on vacation. 

Keeping your skincare routine consistent even when you are away from home is important in keeping your eczema calm. Don’t start bringing or trying out new products while you’re in a foreign country. Use what you know works. 

Avoiding Triggers

Eczema is often aggravated by allergens, foods, dander, stress, heat, and many more. Keeping track of these triggers is what I usually recommend for eczema patients before any sort of medication gets involved. Here are some of the common triggers:

HEAT

For example, hotter climates like southeast Asia combined with long stretches of activity in the sun can cause a flare up for some people. For me, it is the sweat caused by these activities that can make things worse.

My recommendation: Wear light and breathable clothing to improve ventilation and sweat absorption. Take breaks and stay hydrated as necessary.

FOOD ALLERGIES

And while I know how tempting it is to try new foods in other countries, make sure you have a good idea of what it is in it or cooked with it before ordering. 

My recommendation: 

1. Learn the names of the foods you are allergic to in the language of the countries you are visiting.
2. Carry allergy pills with you when you are going out.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Choosing the right accommodation for you can also make a difference on whether or not your eczema will be an issue during your trip. There are many factors to consider such as cleanliness, humidity, toiletries, amenities, etc.

My recommendation:

1. Choose an accommodation with air conditioning for warmer locations if heat and sweat are a trigger for you.
2. Bring your own soap and body wash.
3. Bring your own towel, pillow case, and pajamas if certain fabrics can be aggravating to your skin
4. Always rinse yourself after swimming if going to a pool.
5. Dust off your clothes outside the hotel before going in the room to avoid bringing in allergens

And along with everything else, make sure you stay hydrated and moisturize when you can.

For additional tips on dealing with eczema itch check out the Eczema Society of Canada

Packing with Eczema in Mind

So even if you do all of the above, sometimes eczema will just do what it does anyways and itch..and itch..and itch.. Are you scratching yet?

Just because I’m on vacation doesn’t mean my eczema is. I always like to make sure that my packing is thorough when it comes to taking care of my skin while travelling. We don’t play around here when it comes to eczema management.

Here’s what I think are absolute musts to bring for my skin:

1. Eczema medications (Steroid creams/lotions) – if you can bring them in travel sized containers then do so but if not make sure they have the proper pharmacy label on them or keep them in your checked bag. For any refrigerated items such as biologics, talk to your pharmacist and doctor to figure out the best way to bring these (you may need to speak to the airline as well)
2. Moisturizers – Again bring what you know works for your skin
3. Gentle cleanser
4. Antihistamines
5. Light cotton clothing
6. Body Wash and Shampoo

Check out my blog post on my complete packing list here!

I have suffered from eczema since childhood until present, and over time I’ve learned how to make it suck a little less. Travelling with eczema doesn’t have to be a problem. I can still swim, I can still go on hikes, and I can still try new foods. I just do it with a bit more preparation in mind. As long as you pay attention to your triggers and pack the right things, you can do it as well worry free. 

Follow along the “Travelling With” series to get some more tips on how to travel confidently with chronic illnesses!