Treating Your Eczema on Vacation

Just because you are going on vacation, does not mean that your eczema is. For those suffering from eczema, it is commonly known that the skin condition acts up in either extremely hot or extremely cold and dry conditions. So what happens when you go on that nice, warm tropical getaway you've been planning? Unfortunately for us, we cannot simply decide not to pack our eczema and leave it at home - nope, it comes with us and in more cases than not lets us know full well that it's there. There are certain ways and products you can use to treat your skin with respect and keep it looking beautiful away from home. First and foremost:

Where are you going?

If you are travelling to a considerably hot destination, the most important thing is to pack the appropriate clothes. You may notice that the areas of your skin that are prone to eczema outbreaks will also be particularly prone to heat rashes as well. And what do you get when eczema and a heat rash spring up together? A bumpy, puffy, itchy and scaly - sometimes flaky - mess, anything but beautiful and a sure-fire way to make a person feel less than glamorous. So, what can you do? Pack and wear clothing that exposes the irritated skin to air if possible. The friction of fabric against the already irritated skin combined with the heat trapped between your clothes and your body will result in additional itching and possible spreading.

Cold weather clothing one also much be particularly careful about. You may be wondering, "How can I stay warm and still let air get the eczema?" and the answer lies in the looseness and the fabric itself. Wear looser or more free-flowing items to allow air to circulate over your skin while keeping your warm at the same time, and avoid and eczema's worst enemy - wool.

Now that we have covered the basics, we will move on to treatments:

What are my travel-ready product options?

One huge frustration of traveling anywhere with any kind of cosmetic product is the amount of the product. When flying, the TSA regulations dictate that you should declare medicines (this includes prescription ointments) just in case they look at it deem that it shouldn't be taken on a plane. TSA regulations also say that in order to have creams, liquids and gels in your carry-on bag, it must be in a clearly marked container of about 3 fluid ounces or less. "Okay, so then I'll just check my cosmetics in with my luggage - no problem, right?" This is another flaw in traveling. While this may sound like a good option, I would not recommend it. Heaven forbid it if your luggage should be lost by the airline and your products - that you may not be able to find duplicates of in your destination - are gone. Here are a couple of travel ready options:

Product-wise, the Mario Badescu Control Cream is an incredible product that works great on eczema outbreaks. Although it is a little pricey (running at about $26USD for a 1 oz. container on their website), a little bit goes a long way and like most Mario Badescu products, it offers fast relief and lasts a long while. The best thing about this cream is that it is gentle enough to sue on your face if you need to, but powerful enough to be effective on other areas of your body. Not to mention, it is small enough to keep with on in your carry-on bag with no problems!

Another great product is the Paula's Choice Skin Relief Treatment. The regular bottle of this stuff comes in a 4 oz. container, but the great thing about Paula's Choice is that a sample packet is offered for only $.80 USD per packet! That is a great deal, considering that you can pick up as many as you need to get you through your vacation. This not only helps to soothe the red irritated bumps that spring up from eczema but can also help reduce the puffy appearance of the outbreaks.

Now, if you're not looking to buy a whole bunch of new products and will be traveling with your prescription medicine (don't forget to declare it, just in case!) but are looking for a little something extra to keep your outbreaks in check, turn to one of nature's most wonderful products - chamomile. Yes, that's right: chamomile. Chamomile has been proven to help soothe skin and can be used in part to help treat a variety of skin conditions, such as scarring, acne, eczema and psoriasis. The way that I find is best to use chamomile for eczema is the following: Boil some water and drop a chamomile bag or two in. Let it steep for about 2 minutes and remove the tea bags. Put them on a paper plate and stick them in the freezer for 1-2 minutes until they are nice and cold. Apply the chilled bags to the irritated areas and press them gently into the skin for 10-20 minutes - and feel free to drink the tea from it that you made earlier! The best thing about this method of treatment? You can find chamomile tea practically everywhere.

Treating a skin condition such as eczema when you are far away from the comforts and conveniences of your own home can be difficult and even intimidating, but there are a variety of ways to cope. Don't be afraid - embrace the heat of your tropical getaway; embrace the chill of your Alaskan cruise! But always remember to treat your skin carefully and with respect wherever you travel to.