When you’re away from home, it’s easy for your skin-care routine to go out the window. But traveling is one of the times when your skin needs attention the most. “Traveling can wreak havoc on the skin,” says Deanne Mraz, MD, the president and a cofounder of Modern Dermatology in Westport, Connecticut, and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine.

Most travel methods involve exposure to dry air, but air travel in particular can be dehydrating. Dehydration of the air doesn’t lend itself to healthy-looking skin. “It makes fine lines and wrinkles appear more prominently and can leave skin looking dull,” Dr. Mraz says.

There’s also a good chance you’ll encounter some stress along the way, whether you hit an unexpected traffic jam in the car or are in a rush to board your flight. This can trigger an inflammatory response in the body, which can exacerbate conditions such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis, Mraz says. Increased stress might also cause breakouts, says Marisa Garshick, MD, a New York City–based dermatologist.

Luckily, all this can be avoided if you plan ahead. We asked several dermatologists for tips on what they do to keep their skin healthy during travel. Here’s what they recommend.

1. Stay Hydrated Internally to Retain Moisture Externally

2. Keep Your Lips Hydrated With an Ointment

It’s easy to overlook your lips when you’re in the midst of a long travel day, but that’s a mistake, Dr. Garshick says. “Long days of travel can dry out the skin [and] also the lips, so it’s extra important to keep the lips well hydrated,” she says. She recommends petroleum-based ointments that form a barrier on your lips to prevent moisture evaporation, for use en route.

3. Wear Sunscreen Even on Travel Days

If you’re headed to a tropical locale, you’ve likely got your sunscreen and beach hat all packed. It may not occur to you to slather on sunscreen when you’ll be spending most of the day in the airport or on a plane, but it’s a good habit to get into. “Although sunscreen should be applied every day, it is essential on travel days, especially on a plane when you’re even closer to the sun’s ultraviolet rays,” Garshick says.

4. Try to Bring Your Usual Products With You

That way, you won’t be asking your skin to adjust to all-new products on top of the other stressors associated with travel. “If you know your skin-care routine works, you should stick with it, even when traveling,” Garshick says. Mraz advises seeking out sample-size versions of your essentials. That’s a better option than simply pouring your oils and serums into plastic containers. “Most skin care needs to be stored in a specific way to preserve its effectiveness, so don’t pour it into a travel-size bottle without doing your homework first,” she says. Most vitamin C serums, for instance, are best kept in a cool, dark place away from extreme heat (which is why they’re often sold in dark bottles). Basics, like cleansers, usually do just fine in a travel-size bottle, though, Garshick says.

5. Avoid Using Potentially Irritating Hotel Skin-Care Products

“In this day and age of restrictions on bringing creams and lotions on planes, many people will leave their usual products at home and use whatever is provided to them at a hotel or resort,” says Scott Flugman, MD, a dermatologist with Northwell Health in Huntington, New York. But it’s best to skip those little lotions and soaps stocked in your hotel bathroom. “These products frequently contain fragrances and preservatives that may further compound the usual travel-related dry skin problems,” Dr. Flugman says. This is especially crucial if you have sensitive skin, Garshick says.

It’s also a good idea to bring your own small travel-size bottles of nourishing shampoo and conditioner, as hotel brands could dry out your scalp and cause itching, dryness, and irritation. You can also use a hair mask when you arrive at your hotel after traveling, to lock in moisture.

6. Prepare for Acne Breakouts

7. Treat Yourself to a Sheet Mask or Facial Mist While en Route

There’s no shame in giving your skin some love while you’re on the road. “I love to treat my skin to a hydrating mask on a long flight,” Mraz says. Patricia Farris, MD, a dermatologist based in Metairie, Louisiana, advises packing a hydrating facial mist and spraying it periodically throughout your trip to keep skin moisturized. Sure, you may get a few questioning looks from fellow passengers, but the joke’s on them when your skin is hydrated and smooth as the plane touches down.

The Takeaway

• Traveling can cause your skin to act up, but dermatologists say there are simple steps you can take to lessen the disruptive effects of long flights, drives, and unfamiliar climates.
• Focusing on the basics, such as hydration, stress reduction, and sun protection can go a long way in terms of keeping your skin calm.
• Sticking to your usual skin-care routine by bringing your own products rather than using the unfamiliar (and potentially bothersome) options provided to you might also save you from skin aggravation.
• Preparing for the worst — whether it’s an unexpected breakout or the desert-like air on a plane — can make traveling easier on your skin.