Your skin acts as a protective barrier between your body and the outside world (hence the term “skin barrier”). When that barrier gets broken, say, by a cut or a scrape, the sensitive tissues underneath the top layer of skin can quickly become exposed to bacteria and pathogens. At their best, wound infections can result in discomfort, red, angry skin, and pus (ew!). At their worst, they can be fatal. 

That’s why my mom, Dr. Marlene McBride, DNP — a nurse of over 30 years — always preached the importance of proper handwashing growing up. Throughout her expansive career, my mother has done it all: From delivering newborns to providing care to flight crew at an airline headquarters, healthcare has been her lifeblood. And because she’s seen firsthand what can happen if you don’t take care of the skin you’re in, she always keeps a bottle of Vashe Wound Solution on hand — and tells me to never leave home without packing some, too.

Vashe OTC Wound Solution

Zoizocp Travel-sized Spray Bottles

Available at Amazon for $23, this gentle, medical-grade wound cleanser kills a broad spectrum of fungi and bacteria, including strains that are common among frequent travelers, like E.coli, MRSA, and salmonella. What makes Vashe so special, though, is that it’s pH-balanced to mimic the skin’s “natural antimicrobial defenses” to promote faster healing, with one study finding that cleaning wounds with Vashe can result in a seven-day reduction in healing time. (Tip: Although the 8.5-ounce bottle far exceeds TSA restrictions for liquids, Amazon has perfectly-sized mini spray bottle sets you can use to bring some with you on the plane.) 

What’s more, Vashe doesn’t contain harsh antiseptics like alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, making it a great option for people with sensitive skin. It’s sting-free, soothing, and gentle enough to use around the eyes. “We actually use it at our hospital,” says my mom, who always makes sure to keep it stocked at home, too. “I like to have a little bottle of that with me at all times, just in case.” 

Vashe OTC Wound Solution

Zoizocp Travel-sized Spray Bottles

Considering the unpredictable nature of travel and the fact that airports, planes, and public transit can be hotbeds for bacteria, my mom insists that I bring it with me on trips. “When you travel, you don’t know what kind of bacteria you might be exposed to,” she explains. In the event that I get scraped by thickets on a hike or cut my foot on a rogue piece of glass, Vashe will keep it clean of foreign pathogens and bacteria while the healing process takes place.  

If a wound isn’t properly cleaned and cared for within the first 24 to 72 hours, it can lead to an infection, and if that infection enters the bloodstream, sepsis — a rapidly progressing complication that can lead to organ failure and even death in a matter of hours —  can occur. While rare, sun-treated wounds can also become susceptible to necrotizing fasciitis, AKA “flesh-eating bacteria.” Just like sepsis, this potentially fatal bacterial infection progresses in just a matter of hours, which is why cleaning wounds ASAP is so important.

With beach season fast approaching, it’s important to remember that ocean water isn’t the magic wound healer you might think it is. “Sometimes we have a false sense of security about ocean water,” says my mom. “But in reality, especially in warmer climates, some bacteria thrive in ocean water. And having a cut that’s not been cleaned or covered up allows that bacteria to get in it.” So the next time you scrape your foot on a sharp piece of coral or get pinched by a crab, be sure to thoroughly clean it immediately.

Vashe OTC Wound Solution

Zoizocp Travel-sized Spray Bottles

Thanks to my mom’s recommendation, I plan on packing Vashe with me on all of my future trips. As it turns out, though, my mom isn’t the only medical professional who recommends Vashe wound solution. Several Amazon reviewers report that they purchased it upon recommendation from nurses, physicians, wound care specialists, and even pediatric doctors — and were shocked by how quickly their skin began to heal after using it. 

One shopper even said that their doctor recommended using it to care for their c-section wounds after delivery, adding that it helped keep their incisions clean without excessive burning or discomfort. Chiming in, another reviewer mentioned that the product was recommended by their wound care doctor: “Beyond simple saline or other wound care products, it actually diminishes bacteriological and microbial growth, leaving healthy, viable tissue; it is worth every penny!”

Curious to know what other first aid must-haves my mom recommends for travel? Keep scrolling for her other suggestions below, including life-saving emergency tourniquets and travel-sized antibacterial soap sheets, starting at just $8.

More First Aid Travel Essentials to Shop: 

North American Rescue CAT Tourniquet 

Fomin Antibacterial Soap Sheets

Bandaid Flexible Fabric Bandages

Ace 3-inch Elastic Bandage

Lifestraw Personal Water Filter

At the time of publishing, the price started at $23.

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