Acne, back pain and a cold are not the typical souvenirs you would like to bring home from a trip, but they are common things that you can experience after traveling. It’s very common to come down with a cold or other sicknesses after air travel. Research has shown that 21% of passengers on airlines report getting a cold within a week of flying. Another two-thirds of people said that the preparation for traveling causes the most stress, which will also hurt your immune system and make you susceptible to a cold.
Additionally, the lack of sleep from stress or a red-eye flight will make you 4 times more likely to get sick. We turned to the experts for advice on how to avoid the seemingly unavoidable post-travel sickness and got the best tips and tricks to recover from your vacation without feeling like you need another one. See your dermatologist before you leave: Jet lag can leave your skin looking pale and dry. The change in your environment can really take a toll on your skin. Try to avoid hotel face washes, which can cause breakouts or rashes. Stay glowing: Instead of buying travel-sized products at the drugstore, see if your dermatologist has samples of lotions or cleansers. It can give you an excuse to try a new product, and they will definitely be more gentle on the skin than the things you will find in a hotel. On the plane: People typically think they get the flu after flying because of the contaminated air, however, recently, the CDC stated that new airplanes have filters which capture most of the particles in the air that would make you sick. The problem lies in the germs that are on the surfaces you touch, such as tray tables and armrests. Surprisingly, germs can live there for a week!
Stay healthy: Bring disinfectant wipes on the plane and wipe all the surfaces clean when you get to your seat, specifically your tray table and armrests. For your hands, bring hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. In your seat: Bring a ball to help with your posture. When you are sitting for longer than 2 hours, no matter how good your trusty neck pillow is, you are going to be sore. By being proactive and bringing something like a ball on the plane with you, you will be able to minimize the soreness and stiffness from sitting too long. Get up, Stand up: If you have an aisle seat, make sure to get up and go for a walk once every hour. If you are not in an aisle seat, that’s going to be a little more difficult, but whip out your ball and put it between your back and the seat. Move your body slightly to roll it around. This mini massage will help get out any knots.
At restaurants: Of course, it is okay to treat yourself while you are traveling, but be sure to not overindulge, as that could lead to bloating and constipation issues. Stay satisfied: Try to find healthy ingredients that are made in a different way than you are used to. This will help your meals feel special even if they are not over-indulgent. Going home: Of course, everybody wants to extend their vacation for as long as they can, but extending it too long will mess with your sleeping schedule and cause extra stress which will, in turn, reverse the relaxing effect you wanted out of your vacation in the first place.
Stay energized: Try to book your trip so that you can come home on a Saturday night. This will really help when you have to return to work on Monday after a long vacation. By getting home on Saturday you will have two nights to readjust to your schedule, and this will help ease your struggle on Monday morning. Natural remedy: Hangovers are typically caused by dehydration, so make sure and prevent this by bringing a reusable water bottle with you. For every alcoholic drink you have, have water as well.