Advice to travelers on avoiding sun screen, insect repellent and other common travel health mistakes.

Top 10 travel
health mistakes

advice you can trust

Top 10 rankings
Travel health mistakes #8, 9, and 10

Using inadequate skin protection

Sun screen

Travelers walk around outdoors a lot. That's why you need to put it on before (not after) you are outdoors during the peak solar hours (10am to 3pm). To be adequately effectiive, your sun screen product should have a SPF rating of 30 or higher. And you need apply it liberally and every two hours.

Insect repellent

The product should be at least 30% DEET in content. Some mosquitoes bite in the daytime, others at night, depending on the geographical region. Ask locals about the type of mosquito they have.

Abrasions

Don't just put a band aid on a cut. You risk infection and possibly a viral intrusion. First wash the wound and apply an anti-bacterial ointment.

Wearing the wrong shoes

Blisters

As a traveler, you are going to be doing a lot of walking, so wear comfortable, broken-in shoes to prevent blisters.

Sole

Be sure your shoes have good-grip soles to keep you from slipping and getting injured as you walk down steps and along cobblestone streets on rainy days.

Doning a baseball cap on sunny middays

Baseball cap vs wide-breamed hat

The first shields your face, but not your sun-burn prone neck. A wide-breamed hat protects both your face and neck in the midday sun when ultra-violet light is strongest.

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