When packing for a much-needed holiday, a doctor is reminding people to prioritise taking her top essentials, from the right medications to skincare products
When going abroad, many of us spend significant time planning our holiday outfits from packing our favourite swimsuit to stunning evening outfits or even activewear for exploring. However, a doctor is reminding people to make enough room in their cases for products to protect their skin, and medicines in case they get ill.
If you are travelling to place where the weather is warm, there’s no doubt that you need to pack suncream. However, Dr Raj Arora, who is a GP and TV doctor, insists that “SPF is just the start”. The passionate medical expert, who owns The Facebible clinic, has shared exactly what she packs in her bad to ensure she is covered in case she falls ill and her skin is protected.
The expert, who boasts over 188,000 followers on TikTok, shared a clip of her shopping in Superdrug recently. “Here’s what’s actually in my skincare bag when I’m on holiday,” she said in the video.
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First up, she highly recommends a hydration spray if you are travelling to a hot place. Dr Arora noted: “I always take a hydrating spray because the thing is if you’re hot and bothered and love to be in the water or just sitting sunbathing in the heat it’s something to hydrate your skin and refresh you.”
She recommends the 150ml Evian hydrating spray which will set you back £7.99 at Superdrug. However she notes that non-branded cooling sprays are also very good, and are typically cheaper.
The medical expert also suggests buying some after bite spray. She said: “Obviously if you’ve been bitten something cooling and calming for wasps, bees, mosquitos, calms your bite down and lets you get on with your holiday without scratching and itching and making a whole red inflamed state of your skin.”
Dr Arora recommends Jungle Formula, particularly if you are travelling somewhere where mosquitos are present. There are a number of different options from £6.59 to £10.
Sharing another suggestion, the doctor added: “Also Mozzipatch patches are great, just stick them on and wherever you are going in the evening, they can help to repel mosquitos as well.”
Three packets of 20 Mozzipatches can be purchased from Superdrug for £18.
The health expert also insists that you take some medication with you “just in case” of illness; it means you are prepared. She advises taking Calpol for children, Piriton in case of reactions and hay fever, as well as some paracetamol and ibuprofen.
She added: “But also make sure you’re getting yourself some strong antihistamines just in case you’re abroad, can’t get hold of them and you’ve reacted to something, your skin’s reacted.
“Sometimes your skin might reaction to a mosquito bite or an insect bite and that might flare up. An antihistamine can really reduce that and help the itch as well.”
Dr Arora also says it’s “really important to think about” packing something like an Aloe Vera. She added: “If you’ve got a bit of sunburn or some redness, or irritation, something like this can be really cooling and calming. Help you hydrate the skin and relieve the skin after being in the sun.”
Futhermore, she says she “can’t tell you how many times” she has been abroad and needed to some Dioralyte to help with food poisoning, stomach bugs and diarrhoea. “Honestly a life safer,” she insisted.
She also advises packing some antiseptic wipes in case you or children get any cuts or scrapes.
Do you take these essentials on holiday? Comment below…