Thinking of going away soon? As travelling long distance is now apart of our lives, whether it be by boat, plane, car or train, sometimes our skin starts to react when it hasn't before or our previous issues start to come back again - sometimes our skin is better than it is at home! Why is this?
When we are in whatever environment surrounds us, our skin adapts. It is a very clever organ that is forever changing, looking for ways to keep it at its optimal health so that it can do its job and protect us. What we put into our body or what we surround our self with, it will take on board and either be a healthy skin or a problematic skin. So when we travel, it is safe to say our skin will adapt to our environment and our lifestyle choice while travelling.
When we travel on a plane or long distant in a car, we are generally in airconditioning, this can make our skin extremally dry causing issues with our skin barrier. It can also trigger (note I said trigger - not the cause) eczema and other related dry skin issues. Also especially on planes, food choices are not huge so you tend to not have the best quality which can make your skin react to those.
Travelling to a different environment or country can mean you are eating totally different foods to what you are used to and your digestive system can get a "shock" at some unhealthy choices or possibly even feel better if consuming more of a healthier diet while away. You can some times expect digestive acne, blackheads or your rosacea coming back around your forehead, cheeks and chin area. Flushing cheeks or chest if you are eating spicy foods that you have never eaten before or drinking more alcohol while on holiday. Keeping in mind, the process these foods are been cooked - are they cooked in good cooking oil for instance, do they have additives to make them look good. When we have extra preservatives or additives to our diet, our hormones can play up causing toxin purging around your jawline, neck, chest and back. Also the possibility of eating takeaways and fast foods is greater when travelling due to being able to get food on the go.
Our focus on food choices generally isn't that high priority as we have so many other things to look forward to be doing. We can tend to overlook the importance of healthy food choices and why not! We have been so good all year, we want to "treat" ourselves right? We want to relax and that includes our food choices too.
Sometimes just relaxing after a stressful few months can make our skin purge or react. Why? Think of this scenario - why sometimes do you get sick when you have a holiday? It always happens when you just sit down to rest - generally you have been go go go and then you rest and your body decides to catch up and purge out any virus or energy it has been holding onto. Same goes with your skin. If you have been go go go, your skin decides to purge anything that it has been holding on to, keeping in mind, it is wanting to recover to so it can again do its job and protect you!
Sometimes we can feel travelling as being stressful. Anxiety of travelling, meeting deadlines of planes, meeting people or just being out of your own environment can make you feel worried. Travelling long-haul with little children can also have its challenges. This can simulate our cortisol levels which can cause your skin to react, as well as your digestive system. Making sure you have a good support system for yourself - like mindfulness, calming music and know breathing techniques to calm yourself in situations.
If you are travelling to a sunny spot for your travels, you should always take care with your skin under the sun. Bring a hat, and a reef and skin friendly sunscreen. (such as P4O Sunscreen) If however you are travelling to a colder spot, your skin can still become reactive - especially if you are heading to the snow - again a good quality and skin friendly SPF would be needed for this.
Tips to help your skin while travelling are to:
Drink lots of water, water will help you flush out any toxins
Take a good skin barrier repair cream such as Osmosis Mango Barrier Repair Cream with you on your travels to apply in your mode of travel, or when you are in your new environment.
Take your own condensed skin care routine to make sure your skin is still feeling the love. Don't use hotel or products that are not specifically recommended for your skin. Look for tiny travel packs in your skincare brand.
Understand your food choices and what makes your own skin and body react. While you want to treat yourself, limit these if you can. Remember being healthy, doesn't mean you need to miss out on the treats. Dark chocolate or cacao is one example.
Take a diary with you and not only record your travels but write down your foods that day, and note how your skin has reacted or your gut health is feeling. How are you emotionally? This will not only help you keep on track with your food choices but help you have a record if your skin breaks out at a later date.
Talk to your Skin Coach (Sarah Tumulty, SWAN Skin Wellbeing & Nutrition) as to what products will be able to help your specific skin concerns during your travels
Take a relaxing elixir such as the Osmosis Relax & Unwind Elixir with you so the stress is manageable
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