8 Essentials for Healthy Travel

April 27, 2013— -- intro: After months of planning and saving, the last thing you want is for your dream vacation to be ruined by a painful sunburn, a surprise cold, or an attack of stomach trouble.

Don't fret! Our travel first-aid kit contains everything you'll need to weather the unexpected and get back to enjoying your trip—all in a snug package that will fit easily into your carry-on.

quicklist: 1category: Essentials for Healthy Traveltitle: Saline Nasal Spray url: text: Travel stress messes with your immune system. "Add dry plane air and you have a recipe for getting sick," says Travis Stork, MD, co-host of The Doctors. A spray keeps mucus membranes moist and less hospitable to germs.

Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick

quicklist: 2category: Essentials for Healthy Traveltitle: Nail Clipper url: text: Sure, you like how a manicure looks, but it's for safety, too: Some studies show that longer nails harbor more bacteria, upping your risk of spreading them to food or skin. Trim to a maximum of one-eighth of an inch beyond your fingertip.

quicklist: 3category: Essentials for Healthy Traveltitle: Bandage Strips url: text: Go with various sizes, no peroxide or ointment needed: "Soap and bottled water work just as well to clean cuts and fight infection," says Nancy Snyderman, MD, chief medical editor for NBC News.

Home Remedies Doctors Swear By

quicklist: 4category: Essentials for Healthy Traveltitle: Pain Reliever url: text: "Ibuprofen is a great choice for easing pain, soreness, and inflammation from sprains, arthritis or other issues," says Dr. Stork. It's especially useful for the active and adventurous.

quicklist: 5category: Essentials for Healthy Traveltitle: Aloe Vera url: text: A must-have for soothing sunburn, this cool gel also calms itchy bug bites and blisters after a long day of sightseeing. It's good for zapping blemishes, too.

quicklist: 6category: Essentials for Healthy Traveltitle: Antihistamine url: text: Not only does it alleviate allergies (curse you, ragweed!), but it can also save you a trip to the doctor if a rash crops up.

Bonus: Popping it 30 minutes before bed might help you snooze if you're jet-lagged.

6 Tips for Beating Jet Lag

quicklist: 7category: Essentials for Healthy Traveltitle: Elastic Bandage url: text: A one-stop wonder! Use it to wrap a sprained ankle, put pressure on a deep cut or even securely tie up your souvenir-stuffed luggage.

quicklist: 8category: Essentials for Healthy Traveltitle: Stomach Soother url: text: Skip the antidiarrheal; a more versatile med, like Pepto-Bismol, slows the growth of tummy-troubling bacteria, relieving diarrhea, upset stomach, nausea and heartburn.

This article originally appeared on Health.com.

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