There are plenty of joys about being on holiday but the results of a new study in the UK has revealed that your trip away could be better for you than just a relaxing break at home.

Of the Brits surveyed for the study, 81 per said they felt better as a result of the holiday.

However, there were also some surprising benefits like a boost in confidence, improved skin condition and even weight loss.

A total of 31 million people, who had been on holiday in the previous 12 months, were included in the survey conducted by Expedia.

There are some obvious benefits of taking a holidays as 46 per cent of people said they felt more relaxed, 42 per cent said they felt happier and 35 per cent said they felt less stressed.

More unusually, 10 per cent of respondents reported that they saw an improvement in the condition of their skin.

Six per cent of those surveyed said they had higher sex drives, while six per cent of people also said they experienced weight loss as a result of their break.

The effect of the benefits can last anywhere between an average of three weeks to three months.

According to psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos, who assisted with the study, the benefits can be attributed to a combination of factors.

She commented: 'One of the best things about holidays is that by coming out of your routine you don't have to worry about "must dos" and can have new experiences on your terms.

'You're free to do as much or a little as you like, which in turn makes you feel more relaxed. This can help reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which when significantly elevated in the body can have a negative impact on organs such as the skin.

'As stress and anxiety decreases, mood increases – bringing many, often unexpected, positive benefits in how we perceive ourselves, motivation and productivity, and our general outlook on life.'

Dr Papadopoulos added: 'Exposure to a healthy amount of sunshine is also believed to increase the brain's release of the hormone serotonin, which is associated with boosting mood and helping a person feel calm and focused.'