As delightful as traveling can be, it’s often challenging on your skin. From lack of air circulation to new climates to opting for hotel skincare over products that you know work for you, there are a lot of factors that can impact your skin. Rather than appearing fresh and glowing, most of us end up with dull, dry skin with new pimples – which can make you want to avoid the camera rather than capture memories to savor later.

Fortunately, there are things that you can do in order to prep your skin for travel in order to help it stay healthy throughout your trip. Here’s what you need to know about what you can do to prep your skin for travel.

#1. Stick To Your Tried And True Skincare Products

Vacation is not the time to test out that new serum or moisturizer. What if it doesn’t work for you or it causes an adverse reaction? It’s best to stick to skincare products that you know work well for you. 

You can either get travel sizes, if available, or put your skincare into little travel containers. If you’re going to use travel containers, make sure that you’re doing it in a way that works for each type of product. For instance, vitamin C serums should be placed in a container that protects them from the sun, as they can oxidize and lose efficiency. If you’re in a bind, stick to the basic necessities: cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF 30+.

If you would like to bring new products with you, test them out before jetting off or hitting the road. Patch tests on your arm are best, that way if you have a reaction to them, said reaction isn’t all over your face for the world to see. 

#2. Consider The Climate Of Your Destination

… And how your skin type might react to it. If you’re traveling somewhere humid, you probably don’t have to change anything about your skincare routine if you have dry skin – in fact, the humidity may even help your skin. However, if you have oily skin, you may need to take extra measures. If you’re traveling somewhere dry and you have dry skin, you’ll need to ensure you pack extra moisturizing products.

#3. Stay Hydrated Inside And Out

This can be tricky when you’re actually traveling. Especially if you’re on a road trip, you don’t want to have to constantly stop for bathroom breaks. That said, it’s important to stay hydrated, both for your general health and wellness, and for the sake of your skin.

On planes, water evaporates faster than it does on land, making it challenging for your skin to stay hydrated. When you’re dehydrated, you may be more prone to dry, flakey skin and breakouts. To help it stay clear and glowy, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

You can use sheet masks for topical hydration. You can also try “slugging”, which is when you slather on Vaseline for optimal hydration (not a good idea if you’re prone to breakouts, though). Choosing ultra-moisturizing products and reapplying them as needed can help.

#4. Don’t Forget About Sunscreen

If you’re driving, you are more at risk for sun damage on the side closest to the side windows. If you’re flying, the air is thinner and you’re exposed to higher levels of UV rays. Make sure that you put on sunscreen before you get started on your journey, and reapply as needed. It’s typically recommended that you reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or so.

#5. Leave The Makeup Until After You Get To Your Destination

Makeup can clog your pores and keep your skin from being able to breathe. If you were wearing makeup before you have to travel, take it off beforehand and do your skincare routine. Wait to apply makeup until after you land, if possible, in order to help your skin during the traveling process as much as possible.

#6. Ask Your Dermatologist What To Do

Bear in mind that what works best for one person may be terrible for another. In order to best prep your skin for travel, talk to your dermatologist. They will be able to provide you with professional advice based on your particular skin type and concerns. That way, you’re better able to help your skin stay healthy and beautiful all throughout your travels.

Allen-Taintor Dermatology is here to help you keep your skin healthy and beautiful, and to provide treatments if it’s not. Contact us today to learn more about the dermatology services we provide.

As you get older, you may start to notice age spots on your skin. You may wonder about whether or not you should be concerned about these, or whether they are like freckles: harmless, but indicators of sun exposure/damage. You may also wonder what can be done to prevent and treat them.

Here is what you need to know about preventing and treating age spots.

What Are Age Spots?

An age spot is a small, darkened area on your skin that is flat, tan to dark brown, and typically bigger than freckles, though they range from the size of a freckle to about half an inch across. They usually group together and vary in size. They appear on the face, hands, shoulders, arms, etc, all the areas that get the most sun exposure.

While they are most common in adults over 50, younger people can also get them if they spend a lot of time in the sun. 

What Causes Age Spots?

In order to best know how to prevent and treat age spots, you need to understand what causes them first. Age spots are caused by overactive pigment cells in areas that have frequent/prolonged exposure to UV light. This is an overproduction of melanin in an attempt to protect your skin from the skin. 

You are more likely to get age spots if you have fair skin, if you have frequent or intense sunburns, and if you have frequent or intense exposure to the sun. 

Do You Need To Worry About An Age Spot?

No, you don’t. Age spots don’t need treatment any more than freckles do. They just indicate sun damage. However, if they bother you, you can have them lightened or removed. You can also use makeup to cover them up.

How To Prevent Age Spots

You may not have to worry about age spots, but that doesn’t mean you may want them. Some people are bothered by them, since they can indicate that they are aging. As such, there are things that you can do in order to prevent age spots.

Basically, preventing age spots just involves protecting your skin from the sun. 

Wear Sunscreen Religiously

The AAD recommends a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ every day in order to prevent sun damage. This isn’t just for when you are hiking or going to the beach, but quite literally every day. Even if it’s raining or you aren’t going anywhere, UV rays can still get through clouds and windows to your skin.

Don’t forget your lips, as they can get age spots too. There are lip balms that have SPF in them. 

Wear Protective Clothing

You can also wear protective clothing and avoid the sun during its peak hours (10am-2pm). There are specific types of clothing with UV protection, typically seen in sports sections. You can also opt for long sleeves, pants, skirts, and broad-brimmed hats.

Don’t Go To Tanning Beds

The same as laying out on the beach without sun protection can lead to sun damage, tanning beds can cause UV damage too. If you prefer how you look with a tan, you may prefer a self-tanning lotion for an option with risk of UV damage. Talk to your dermatologist about what you can do to be a bronzey goddess without suffering sun damage.

Treatment For Age Spots

While age spots are not cancerous and don’t develop into cancer, it’s always a good idea to have your dermatologist evaluate them just in case. If dermatologist is concerned, they will suggest a biopsy, where they take a small piece of skin from the spot and send it to a lab to have it tested for abnormalities. However, if it is a true age spot, this is typically harmless. 

Makeup

This isn’t a treatment, but it can lessen the appearance of your age spots. You can cover them with makeup, such as by using a color-correcting concealer. A makeup artist would be able to give you specific makeup advice, but generally, using yellow or peach-colored concealers on age spots and then using your normal concealer and foundation can work to cancel it out. 

It’s good to consult with a makeup artist in order to avoid wasting money on makeup that doesn’t work for you so that you can get personalized advice, recommendations, and be shown what to do.

Over-The-Counter Treatments

You can get creams and lotions and the like over the counter. Bear in mind that these are not as effective as professional treatments. It’s also important to note that even with professional treatments, age spots have a tendency to return. 

Spot Treatment

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests specific creams and lotions that can help lessen the appearance of age spots. They won’t work miracles, but over time, you can see an improvement. 

Professional Options

There are a variety of professional treatment options for age spots. These include prescriptions, like bleaching creams. 

Medical Procedures

Medical procedures can remove/reduce age spots.

These include:

• Intense pulsed light treatment. Light waves pass through the skin and target melanin to break up spots.
• Chemical peels remove the outer layer of skin so that new skin can grow.
• Dermabrasion sands the outer layers of skin away so that new skin can grow.
• Cryosurgery freezes spots with liquid nitrogen.
• Your dermatologist can also cut the spot out.

Should You See Your Dermatologist For Age Spots?

While you don’t need medical treatment for age spots, you should have them looked at if they have changed in appearance or turned black in color, as these signs can indicate melanoma (skin cancer). See your doctor for evaluation if the age spot is getting bigger, the border is irregular, it has an unusual combination of colors or is black instead of just a shade of brown, or if it is bleeding. 

Remember you still need to protect your skin from the sun even if you already have age spots. This is especially important after treating age spots.

While age spots are harmless, you may not like their appearance. As such, you can take steps to either prevent them or to treat them, if desired.  It is always good to talk to your dermatologist about any concerns you have

Allen-Taintor Dermatology is here to help with your skin concerns. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and let us help you keep your skin healthy and beautiful.