Traveling with allergies requires well-planned packing. Having allergic reactions can be challenging every day, especially when it comes to traveling and bringing travel-sized products. Carrying only three-ounce containers on airplanes can be tough if you need to pack light and bring your medications. In addition, many products contain SLS, preservatives, or fragrances that may cause reactions on your skin. So, here’s how to buy clean, think green and pack light for your next trip and plan ahead.
With these steps, your traveling will be safer, better, and healthier.
Traveling with Allergies: Pack The Essentials
Before you travel, make sure to pack a travel health kit with the essential items you will need. This travel kit should include your prescriptions and medicines that will last for your entire trip, or even longer, in case something happens, like delayed flights.
Depending on your allergies, you should also pack sunscreen, especially if you’re allergic to Sun, or if your skin is sensitive, make sure to pack paraben free detergent. Skin-friendly and eco-friendly detergent that is paraben-free and phosphate-free will not only keep your allergic reactions away but will also help the planet with its zero-waste packaging.
Flying may not be a pleasant experience if you have allergic reactions, however, bringing a face mask can help you calm down and avoid potential reactions. For example, if you’re allergic to peanuts and even to the smell of them, having a mask can prevent an allergic reaction. In addition, masks can help with seasonal allergies, like pollen.
Traveling with Allergies: Pack Antibacterial Wipes
Whether you’re traveling on a business trip, vacation, foreign country, seaside, or hiking trip, bringing antibacterial wipes is a must. Wipes can prevent an allergic reaction from cross-contamination on surfaces like tables, trays, buttons, seatbelts, media consoles, and many other things. If you have kids with allergic reactions, then especially make sure to wipe everything down since kids put their hands on their faces and in their mouths often.
When you’re choosing which wipes to buy, try to choose clean and green wipes that don’t have any harmful ingredients and won’t leave your skin irritated.
Traveling with Allergies: Store Your Medications The Right Way
When traveling, organization and planning are the key to successful packing. Always pack your allergy medications, emergency medication and pack multiple epinephrine injectors. Even if you’re going on a 3-day trip and think you won’t need your meds all the time, having your meds with you will keep you at ease.
Have a designated pouch that only has your medications and is for emergency only. Don’t mix up and place lip balm, hand cream, or pencils in it, too. It will only create a mess and you will have a hard time finding the right med among so many items.
Also, you can bring a doctor’s note explaining what you need, so in case something happens, someone next to you can easily help you, especially if you’re traveling by yourself. Some cosmetic bags have compartments where you can perfectly place epinephrine injectors and inhalers, as well.
In another smaller pocket, place a doctor’s note and allergy medications. These pouches can nicely fit in bags of various sizes and are great for traveling. If you have trouble finding the right bag for your meds, a simple pencil bag can work perfectly.
Traveling with Allergies: The Kids Should Have Their Own Bags
It’s recommended that kids carry their own bags with allergy medications. This way, your kid will learn and will be able to explain their needs in an emergency. Also, by having their own bags, kids will learn to take care of their stuff and develop a habit of bringing their needed meds everywhere they go.
This is especially important when your kid goes to school or their friend’s house, where people aren’t familiar with their allergies. By having a cute bag to keep their meds, your kid will feel cool and will enjoy the patterns, colors, or animals. If your kid loves planets, then you can try finding a solar system pattern pencil bag.
In the end, traveling with allergies can be quite simple with great planning and packing. Bring allergy medications you’re using every day and bring some more, like in case of delayed flights. With the right packing and clean and green products, your skin and planet will be feeling happy.
About the Author
Victoria Lim is a lifestyle writer with expertise in scribbling a lot of words, traveling with a big pack of gummy bears (green ones to the victory!), walking a dog for miles and miles, and choosing a tea for her next cup.