Whether you’re traveling for work or planning a fun vacation, trips can be stressful if you have hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). You may worry about painful nodules and cysts, embarrassing symptoms, or feeling uncomfortable during your journey. Venturing far from home also means you won’t have access to your usual pharmacy or doctor who treats your skin condition. These concerns can contribute to the isolation many people with HS experience.

However, HS shouldn’t keep you feeling stuck at home. Taking a few extra steps can give you a smoother travel experience, more freedom, and a better quality of life.

1. Look Into Travel Insurance

Traveling can be expensive. When you have HS, you may worry that an unexpected flare could derail your plans. Travel insurance can help cover potentially costly issues, like the need to reschedule your flight or get medical care abroad. But before you add travel insurance, it’s important to understand what it will and won’t cover.

People with HS may be interested in different forms of travel insurance. Trip cancellation insurance, also called travel disruption insurance, can make last-minute changes easier. Read the policy to see what reasons for canceling are covered and how far in advance you need to decide about changing your travel plans.

You should also familiarize yourself with your current health insurance plan. Find out if it covers medical care during travel, especially if you’re overseas. If not, you may want to purchase a travel health insurance policy. Finding a supplemental policy that pays for medical services directly can help bridge the gap if there’s an issue while you’re away.

2. Meet With Your Provider

Even if your HS is under control, you may want to talk to your dermatologist about your plans to travel. Aim to schedule a consultation about a month before your trip to find out if there are any special precautions you should take and to get a refill on your prescriptions. They might have helpful medical advice that you didn’t think of.

You can also ask them how to get care while you’re away. Depending on where you’re going and for how long, you may be able to have a telemedicine appointment or have your doctor provide a referral to another provider during your trip.

3. Bring an Emergency Kit

It can be hard to predict when an HS flare-up will strike, so you should hope for the best but plan for the worst. Having enough wound care supplies on your trip will give you peace of mind, even if you’re not experiencing symptoms before you leave.

“I will be traveling this week. I hope I don’t get any flare-ups or leakages, because if I sit too long, my scars from surgeries try to open up, causing leaks and smells. I’m thinking of wearing some Depends just in case,” shared one myHSteam member.

Be sure to pack your wound care supplies and any over-the-counter supplies you use, such as antimicrobial body wash or steroid cream.

4. Pack Biologics Correctly

If you take biologic drugs to treat your HS, there are a few important steps you need to take for safe storage and travel.

• Keep your biologic drugs cold using a cooler bag and ice packs. Note that your specific biologic drug will have a temperature range that it needs to stay within.
• Bring necessary documentation, such as a letter from your health care provider and a copy of your prescription. If you are traveling by plane or internationally, confirm if you will need any additional paperwork for security or customs.
• Plan ahead for safe sharps disposal. You may need to bring your own sharps disposal container or determine how to safely dispose of sharps at your destination.

If you are unsure how to safely travel with your biologics, talk to your dermatologist for guidance.

5. Research Local Resources

It’s not always easy to find health care providers with experience treating HS. Despite meeting with your provider before your trip, it’s a good idea to have a list of hospitals or clinics you could go to if you have an infection or need medical help. In most countries, you should be able to find a local dermatologist.

If you’re traveling to a place where English isn’t the primary language, you may want to bring some basic information about HS and your treatment plan that’s written in the local language.

6. Dress Comfortably

Tight clothing that rubs the skin can cause irritation and HS flares. Wearing loose-fitting clothing and underwear, pants without seams, and wireless bras can help you feel more comfortable. In addition, wearing bandages under your clothing protects leaks from getting on your clothing. Wound care dressings, like gauze, paper tape, and pads, can help reduce pain and prevent your clothes from getting stained from HS lesions or abscesses.

“I’m on vacation, and I feel pretty good — except for the fact that I’m all bandaged up. But I’m definitely not letting it affect my trip!” said one myHSteam member.

Another shared, “I’ve had HS for over 40 years and adopted the same attitude that HS was not taking away my life. I always bandaged. I found it helped a lot with the pain, as well as absorbing the mess! Always tried to ignore my pain too, and I believe I have so many times that it seems easy to block and carry on!”

Talk to your doctor about getting the right documentation about any wounds or risk of wounds. You can submit this information to your insurance company to help cover the cost of some or all of your supplies.

7. Prevent and Manage Stress

Traveling can be stressful. Perhaps you’re anxious about flying, frustrated by long lines or heavy traffic, concerned about travel expenses, or simply too hot, tired, or hungry to feel your best. Anticipating these stressors and bringing some comforting items can help. You may want to pack a new book, a handheld fan to keep cool, headphones to listen to music, and your favorite nonperishable snacks.

If possible, you should always try to schedule some extra time into your travel plans. You never know if you’ll need to take a break or find a health care provider to get medication or treatment for worsening symptoms. Avoiding a packed schedule will help you feel less stressed if you experience any unexpected delays or setbacks.

In addition, unless you’re traveling solo, be sure to choose your travel buddy wisely. The people with you on a trip can make all the difference in your experience. It’s essential to travel with someone who has compassion and patience. While they may not fully understand HS, they should be willing to be flexible and provide help and support when you need it. If you’re traveling with someone you think may cause stress, look for opportunities to get some alone time. Consider getting separate rooms or planning some activities apart to avoid too much time together.

You may have heard people say, “I need a vacation from my vacation.” Traveling can take a lot out of you. Plan on giving yourself a few days to decompress after you return so you have time to unpack and ease back into your everyday routines.

Talk With Others Who Understand

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

What treatment options and supplies do you find most helpful when traveling? Have you ever dealt with a flare-up away from home? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.