How to Prepare for a Summer Trip with Psoriasis

Traveling is great — but it can also affect your health and routine. Here are some things to consider as you get ready for your next vacation.

Summer is right around the corner, and for many people, this means summer trips, travel, and vacations away from home.

If you’re living with psoriasis (PsO), you know that PsO is always the uninvited guest who travels everywhere with you!

Traveling with PsO is not impossible, but it may require a few adaptations along the way to have a pleasant experience. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

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1. Think ahead with medications

Be sure to fill your medications on time — or even early — to ensure you have enough doses to travel with.

If you’ll be away on your scheduled medication refill date, contact your pharmacy. They can often make an exception and provide extra doses or an early refill before your trip.

If you’re on an injectable medication to treat your PsO and it’s in a pen, autoinjector, or vials and syringes, consider investing in a hard case meant for transporting these specific medications. This can help prevent damage during travel and also make it easier when taking it out and putting it back in your bag through security check points.

Be sure to read the nitty-gritty details on how to travel with your specific medications, too. They may require a cooler with an ice pack or another type of cooling mechanism to accommodate longer travel times (i.e. flying overseas or driving cross-country).

When flying, it’s also a good idea to bring your medications in your purse or carry-on bag. This allows for easy access and reduces the risk of losing them in transit.

2. Bring your favorite products with you

If you have a favorite skin moisturizer, consider taking a small amount in a travel container in your purse or carry-on so that you can use it while away from home.

You can also do this for your favorite hair care products that you know work for your scalp.

What works for you might be challenging to find in a different area of the world. Using what’s readily available or included with your room might not work well with your scalp’s chemistry and could even cause a flare.

3. Familiarize yourself with the area

It’s always helpful to know where the nearest pharmacy, grocery store, or other medical supply store is just in case you forget, lose, or damage something critical to your health.

If this isn’t an option (for example, if you’re in a very remote location or on a cruise ship), be sure to pack extras of everything you’ll need while away from home.

4. Consider your clothing options

Pack comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that you can layer.

Loose clothing can help prevent a flare-up and provide comfort if your skin starts to become irritated.

The ability to add and remove layers can help you adapt to changing temperatures throughout the day or even between destinations.

5. Get some healthy doses of sunshine

Some people living with PsO see improvements in their skin during the summer months because there’s more ultraviolet (UV) light during the longer, warmer days.

However, be sure to wear sunscreen every day on all exposed skin (especially your PsO plaques) to prevent sunburn, which may make your PsO worse.

When buying sunscreen, the National Psoriasis Foundation recommends:

• looking for certain words on the packaging, such as:
  • broad spectrum
  • sensitive skin
  • fragrance-free
• using SPF 30 or greater

Some medications used to treat PsO, such as acitretin and methotrexate, may make people more sensitive to the sun. If you’re taking one of these, you might need to take extra precautions in the sun or avoid direct sunlight for long periods of time altogether.

6. Stay cool

Getting too hot and sweating excessively can trigger PsO flares, so consider using fans or staying in air-conditioned areas when possible.

Remember that air conditioning can dry out your skin, too, so be sure to moisturize regularly.

Hats, head coverings, and umbrellas can help protect you from the sun and also keep you cool, which can prevent PsO flares.

7. Schedule rest

Be sure to schedule rest breaks throughout your travel time.

This might mean a few hours at a time or even an entire day. Your body needs rest to recover, and lack of sleep can be a trigger for PsO flares.

8. Take steps to manage your stress

Summer travel isn’t always about rest and relaxation. Be sure to find ways to manage your stress and the big emotions that come with it to avoid overwhelming yourself and triggering a PsO flare.

You can do this with:

• deep breathing
• hypnosis
• biofeedback
• psychotherapy

9. Be aware of the effects of swimming

Swimming in salt water can help to exfoliate skin and even improve the look of PsO plaques.

On the other hand, salt water and chlorinated water can also dry out the skin, causing flares — or even worse, the cracking of plaques and exposure to potential infections.

Always rinse your skin and scalp off with fresh water after swimming. Then, reapply your favorite moisturizer.

10. Take health precautions

The week before your scheduled trip, taking it easy and being kind to your body can help set you up for the busyness that comes with traveling.

During your trip, think of ways to optimize your immune system and protect your health, such as:

• washing your hands often
• using hand sanitizer
• wearing a mask (if and when you feel you need it)
• staying hydrated
• getting enough high quality sleep
• eating a healthy, well-balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables
• eating fermented foods or taking a probiotic

The bottom line

If you’re living with PsO, traveling during the hot summer months is not impossible, but it may require a few extra steps to be prepared while away from home.