Traveling with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can be difficult enough without having to worry about your medication. But transporting biologic medications can be an added stress while on the go.

In fact, one study found that 26 percent of participants who were on biologics didn’t bring their medications with them on trips because it was so stressful. They mostly worried about transporting and storing the drugs.

Luckily, you don’t have to avoid travel or leave your medications at home. Here’s what you need to know about traveling with biologics.

Biologics and Travel: What’s the Challenge?

Many people diagnosed with HS may end up trying biologic drugs if their first few medications don’t control their HS symptoms. Biologic drugs affect certain parts of the immune system to control inflammation.

The key to traveling with biologics is to know that they need constant refrigeration. Even room temperature is too warm for most of these drugs. Keeping biologics at the recommended temperature is essential, starting from the time the medication is made until the time you take it. This is called the “cold chain.”

Biologic therapies are important to treating your HS, and no one wants to experience a flare while traveling. Therefore, it’s essential to know how to transport your medications safely. That way, they’ll remain effective and continue to work for you, no matter what.

6 Strategies for Traveling With HS Biologics

Here are six tips for safe and successful travel with biologics.

1. Prep Your Thermometer

It’s not enough for your meds to be refrigerated. They also need to be kept at a specific temperature. Cold chain storage protocols recommend keeping the drugs at 35 degrees to 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees to 8 degrees Celsius). One study classified meds as being out of temperature range when they were below 32 F (0 C) or above 77 F (25 C). However, some deviations are acceptable, and different medications may require different storage temperatures.

Ask your dermatologist how cold you should keep your medications. These instructions also are usually listed on the box or on an informational sheet inside the box. Temperature information might also be found on the drug manufacturer's website.

2. Bring a Cooler

Before you leave, find a way to keep your drugs cold while traveling. You can use a cooler or small cooling bag filled with ice packs. Then fill it with the number of doses you’ll need while traveling. Test the storage container’s temperature so you know it’s within the target range.

It’s a good idea to practice ahead of time. This allows you to pinpoint how cold your cooler gets and how long it stays cool. That way, if you need to swap out ice packs while traveling, you can set a timer to remind you.

3. Traveling by Air? Organize Your Paperwork

If you’re flying, you should carry your medication with you on the plane. Never entrust your HS meds to an aircraft’s cargo space or to baggage handlers. Keep a few pieces of paperwork with you, such as:

• A letter from your health care provider authorizing you to have the medications
• A copy of your prescription

If possible, transport your medication in its original container. That way, officials will see that you’re following the rules and have proof that your medication is what you say it is. ​

4. Confirm the Rules at Your Destination

It’s important to find out what you’re allowed to bring into the area you’re planning to visit. If you’re taking an international trip, keep in mind that some countries restrict which drugs you can take through customs. For instance, most countries will allow you to bring a 30-day supply of maintenance medications like steroid inhalers, but they may be more restrictive about other drugs.

Others may have specific requirements about additional paperwork that you should keep with you about your medications and medical conditions. You don’t want to take any chances and have your medications confiscated at the border, so doing this research ahead of time can give you peace of mind.

5. Plan for Appropriate Needle Disposal

If you do your own subcutaneous (under the skin) injections, carry a sharps disposal container for your needles (including the plunger). You should also have a safe way to dispose of your prefilled syringe, auto-injector, or other injection device. ​

In many cases, you can take your filled container back to your health care professional’s office. They’ll dispose of it for you or give you medical advice about where you can take it. If your container gets full on the road and you don’t want to wait, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends you research local guidelines for disposing of used sharps. You may have to take them to a hazardous waste disposal location or a supervised medical collection site.

6. Talk With Your Doctor

If you’re well enough to travel but worried about transporting your medications, talk with your dermatologist. They can help you find a way to take your medications with you without any issues. You don’t want to experience HS flare-ups or new symptoms like abscesses while traveling if you can avoid it.

You should also reach out to your dermatology team. They can help if you’re worried about experiencing side effects or allergic reactions to your medications while you’re gone, if you have any injection site reactions during your trip, or if family members or caregivers are concerned about your drug administration or have other questions.

Find Your Team

On myHSteam, the social network for people with HS and their loved ones, more than 43,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with HS.

Have you traveled with biologic drugs? What tips have you learned along the way? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.