Wherever you’re going, travel presents a lot of acne-triggering opportunities: The long flights, fast food, and sudden changes of routine can do a number on your skin. Fortunately, all it takes to help prevent breakouts is a little forethought — and your Curology custom formula.

Why you may breakout when you travel

You're not imagining things! Lots of travelers are affected by acne when they travel, especially on long flights. Acne is multifactorial (meaning there are several reasons you may experience a breakout), but here are a few common reasons you may experience acne during travel:

1. Dry air. The dry air on airplanes can irritate your skin, no matter what type you have. If you have dry skin, the air on a plane can make your skin even more parched. Dry skin does not directly cause acne; however, in some cases, dry skin may make your skin more prone to breaking out. Dry skin may have a weakened skin barrier, and thus become more easily irritated and inflamed by products, and may be more vulnerable to bacterial growth. It’s also possible that dry skin can lead to more dead skin cells, potentially contributing to more clogged pores.

2. Comedogenic skincare products. If you get breakouts, it’s important to pay attention to the ingredients in any product you use on your skin—including sunscreen. This is why we always recommend you review the comedogenicity (potential for blocking pores) of the ingredients in any new or current skincare products. Watch out for products with coconut oil, a notoriously pore-clogging ingredient in skincare products.

3. Diet. We get it — eating is half the fun of going on a vacation! Just be careful to limit your intake of dairy and high-glycemic-index foods (foods loaded with sugars and starches that are digested quickly, sending insulin levels sky-high and triggering more oil production in the sebaceous glands), as these are common contributors to acne. Avoid sugary snacks and drinks, and (again) make sure to drink plenty of water.

How to help prevent acne while traveling

Now that we have established a few of the things that can contribute to a breakout during your vacation, here's six tips to help your skin handle diet, weather, and time zone changes—wherever your GPS takes you.

Start hydrating the night before you fly

The recirculated air in planes can be really drying, so stay on top of your hydration the entire time. Drink plenty of water, and use a little extra moisturizer. Be sure to wear sunscreen while you’re flying, and hold off on applying any heavy makeup until you get to your destination. You can even do a sleeping mask in-flight to keep your skin hydrated.

Bring hand sanitizer (and don’t touch your face!)

Airplanes and airports are rife with places for bacteria to grow, so wash your hands and/or use hand sanitizer frequently. And don’t touch your face!

Watch out for mask acne

The moisture and friction that come with wearing a mask may contribute to breakouts. Likewise, a used mask covered with oil, sweat, and product buildup may also aggravate a breakout. This doesn't mean you shouldn't consider wearing a mask. It just means that, when you do wear a mask, you'll want to try your best to wear a fresh, clean mask every day. Or, you'll want to wash your reusable cloth masks regularly to avoid dirt and bacteria. If you’re experiencing acne around your mouth that gets worse from wearing a mask, it’s all about managing your breakouts.

Watch what you eat

Let's get one thing straight: while eating some foods and avoiding others may help clear your skin, there isn't a "best diet" for acne. Talk to your medical provider about changes in your diet that make sense for your overall health. In the meantime, eating extra fresh fruits and veggies can’t hurt your skin, and may be even better than taking vitamin supplements for acne.

Bring a face mist

Facial misting sprays such as Evian Mineral Water Spray or Avene Thermal Spring Water are a soothing treat for dry, flaky, easily irritated skin. After spraying the mist evenly over your face, apply serum or moisturizer while still damp to seal in the hydration. Bonus: a spritz or two of light, water-based facial mist is a great pick-me-up when you’re feeling the slog of a long flight. Just stash a travel-sized bottle in your carry-on.

Pack your Curology bottle

Per TSA regulations, carry-on liquids or creams and pastes must be 3.4 ounces (100ml) or less per container. Curology patients have no problems here! Your personalized prescription formula can go right in your carry-on bag.

How to target acne while traveling

What do you do if a pimple decides to pop up when you’re traveling? Help calm inflammation with a cold compress or use a hydrocolloid bandage.

Hydrocolloid bandages absorb fluid and oil, and provide a moist environment to help speed up the healing and decrease the potential for scarring.

They say necessity is the mother of invention, which is why we made spot patches designed to blend into your skin—and even under makeup. The Emergency Spot Patch by Curology is so low-profile, you can wear it out and about during the day. Thin enough to layer under makeup, this hydrocolloid patch absorbs fluid and oil without using active ingredients that might irritate your skin. Our spot patch is here to support you—without stealing the spotlight.

You can wear one overnight or even on the plane. Do make sure to apply any spot patch or hydrocolloid bandage before applying your Curology prescription medication (or other creamy skincare products such as moisturizer) to allow the patch to stick to your face and do its thing.

Try a custom acne treatment from Curology

More questions about beating breakouts while traveling? You can send your Curology dermatology provider a message.

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*Cancel anytime. Subject to medical consultation. Results may vary.

Written by

Curology Team