Many redheads have extremely sensitive skin and even rosacea. So, when it comes to traveling, what should a redhead pack? What are the true essentials for ladies with fair/sensitive skin? We consulted with Dr. De Fiori, Dermatologist for the Rosacea Treatment Clinic in Melbourne, Australia:
1. Check regulations regarding sizes you can take on board because they vary by country and change from time to time. You don’t want to pare down a perfected skin routine if you don’t have to. Use professional travel size products rather than repackaging larger products into smaller containers because this can lead to contamination and product spoilage which can cause breakouts and irritation.
2. If you’re tight for space only take your most essential products, preferable those which can multi-task. So if you have a general face treatment cream which is genuinely suitable for use around the eyes or a sunscreen which is also a great moisturizer, skip packing an eye cream and separate daytime moisturizer.
3. Use SPF while on board. It’s a little known fact that aging UV penetrates right through the fuselage, although burning UV is blocked. The extra dose of radiation flight crews receive on a regular basis is associated with premature skin aging and cancer due to their closer proximity to the sun. This is one of the reasons airlines impose (by law) maximum flying hours for their employees. In rosacea, UV triggers flushing and redness in approximately 70% of patients. It can take hours or days to subside, even with medication, and can really dampen your holiday mood or, if you’re taking a business trip, make you uncomfortable about meeting clients. Unfortunately, many still associate a flushed face with alcoholism and not rosacea.
4. Air travel is always drying to some degree, so unless you have very oily skin, it’s best to change to a slightly more moisturizing cleanser than you might normally use.
Recommended ‘Redhead Friendly’ Cleanser: La Roche-Posay Toleriane and Rosacea Anti-Inflammatory Foaming Cleanser, which is available in travel size. It doesn’t have to be a milk or cream cleanser, although if your skin is extremely dry they would be good choices.
If you’re going to be on a long flight, consider stepping on board with recently cleansed skin, then apply a hydrating gel mask or cream with an anti-inflammatory and barrier effect (one which applies clear and is relatively undetectable) like Rosacea Treatment Clinic Rosacea Treatment Cream. Dryness can provoke irritation, especially from higher SPF sunscreens you may be using on holidays, and an excellent moisture barrier in-flight can prevent days of woe on arrival for those fair-skinned and rosacea-prone patients with reactive skin.
5. Lip balm. It takes up essentially no room and isn’t a liquid. An application every few hours in the air will prevent dehydration.
6. Ask for samples. Your dermatologist can often provide you with sample-sized medications and other dermatologicals which are perfect for travel and ideal for your skin.
Rock it like a Redhead!
