Sarasota Dermatology Blog

If you’ve ever taken a vacation, chances are you’ve traveled in an airplane. Vacations can be very exciting and an enjoyable, however they can quickly become unpleasant when you experience irritations caused by dry skin. The following simple tips will help your skin stay hydrated and your vacation time enjoyable.

Drink lots of water, not caffeinated or alcoholic beverages. There is usually less then 25% humidity in a place, this is 10% less then the humidity level found in the typical American home. Your skin will lose a lot of moisture under those conditions. Therefore, I recommend you drink two full eight ounce glasses of water more than you normally would. I know this isn’t as easy as it used to be – you can purchase bottled water after you have passed through TSA’s security check. It is important to drink water, in its purest form. Stay away from other beverages with alcohol and caffeine content, they can contribute to dehydration.

Give your legs a stretch, by visiting the restroom every hour to splash some water on your face. Not only is the short walk good for your circulation, the water is another method of keeping your skin hydrated.

Then moisturize, after splashing your face with water, rub-in some moisturizer and let it “air dry” to better absorb into your skin. Just remember that airport security does not allow lotions in a bottle larger than three ounces.

Also, replenish the moisture in your eyes and nasal passage by picking up an over-the-counter nasal spray and eye drops. Airplane air will dry out these areas, so be sure to replenish often.

Once you have landed in your sunny, warm destination, remember to apply sunscreen liberally and often -as in every three to four hours on exposed skin. Sunscreen with UVA and UVB ray protection will guard your skin against sunburns, which also can dry your skin out.

Taking care of your skin while on vacation will help to make your vacation more enjoyable from beginning until the end!