Mark Twain put it perfectly: “Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” As children, we yearn to travel and explore, but as we get older, we use a wide variety of excuses to convince ourselves that the idea is far-fetched and we can’t become travelers.
For instance, if you have a skin condition like eczema, you may tell yourself that travel may cause a flare-up or that you may not be able to manage your condition, and your entire trip will be ruined.
This is when you look to fellow-travelers for hope and reassurance– people like Geri Winkler, who is the first insulin-dependent diabetic to reach the summit of Mount Everest! With a few skincare steps, you can lead the nomadic life of your dreams and stay comfortable on the road.
Tips to Manage Life on the Road with Eczema
Pack Two Skincare Kits
Life on the road is much easier when you have two skincare kits – one should be for your SOS products, while the other is for daily-use items. Your SOS kit should contain everything that you normally use during a bad flare-up, whether that is a corticosteroid or non-steroidal cream, prescription antihistamines or hydrocortisone cream to manage the itching and irritation.
If you haven’t had a bad flare-up in years, you might not be up-to-date on the latest treatments, so read up on all the latest treatments for eczema, from creams and oral medications to biologics injections. You can discuss these with your dermatologist to decide which SOS treatments would be best while travelling.
Your daily skincare kit should be in an easily accessible place, and it should contain all the products that work well for your skin. This is absolutely not the time to try out a new product, even if it’s received rave reviews, because it is just not worth the risk of a flare-up. Make sure that your products will last your entire trip because, again, you don’t want to try a new local cream for eczema and hunting for the one you normally use might not be an option.
Stick to Your Daily Skincare Routine
One of the best things about traveling is that you get to immerse yourself in the joy and wonder of discovery and find fulfillment in simple things. However, there are potential problems, and most of them stem from the lack of a schedule. It’s easy to stick to your skincare routine when you have a regular schedule, but this often goes for a toss when you’re on the road.
This is why you need to figure out ways to help you stick to your daily skincare routine. You can use daily reminders on your phone and pack your moisturizer along with your bath products so that you remember to apply it after every shower.
Avoid Sudden Shifts in Climate
One of the many benefits of traveling is that you can experience a different world each day. You can go from a hot and humid beach on one day to a cold but serene mountain vista the next. However, when you have eczema, the sudden changes can stress your skin and trigger a flare-up. You can still enjoy these places, but plan your trip so that the changes are gradual, which means that your skin has time to adjust.
Managing the Stress of Life on the Road
There is no doubt that life on the road can be extremely rewarding and deeply fulfilling, but it also has a lot of challenges. Consider the unspoken challenges of living a nomadic life, everything from financial and relationship strains to burnout and loneliness and figure out the best ways to deal with each of these issues. This is important for all travelers, but more so for you, since stress is one of the most common triggers of eczema flare-ups.
Plan your Accommodation based on Your Skin Needs
Don’t choose a place to stay based solely on its location, aesthetic appeal, or even price, as your choice of accommodation will play a surprisingly big role in keeping your symptoms under control. For instance, carpeted rooms are notorious havens for dust mites, which can aggravate your eczema, so avoid these at all costs.
You should also look for well ventilated rooms with climate control, or at the very least, you should be able to use your portable humidifier to prevent your skin from becoming excessively dry. If you are planning to become a digital nomad, you will need to take additional steps to protect your skin as you will be travelling for extended periods.
