Both extremes of humidity can harm the skin, so you may need to work on controlling your environment to get what is best for your skin. This can present a challenge, as many of us work in air conditioned / heated environments where we have no control.
If you have low humidity it simply means there is less moisture in the air. This not only dries out your skin, but also it makes your skin more susceptible to all other allergens. When the skin is very dry its barrier function is weaker.
This happens in the winter when heat systems dry out the air (i.e. forced hot air) or even in the summer when air conditioning can excessively dry the air. If you already have dry skin you may notice your scalp becomes flakier or if you are prone to eczema or psoriasis, the condition becomes worsened.
Even normal skin can be dried out by constant air conditioning and heating that found at many work places. Low humidity is an issue that we need to take into consideration when deciding what skin care products to buy.
In a study published by the British Journal of Dermatology in 2002, air conditioning was cited as one of the main causes of contact dermatitis- a common skin irritation from exposure to allergens or other irritants.
Your skin works best when it is not overly dry. If you live in a very dry place or see your dry skin symptoms worsen seasonally you need to consider using a humidifier. You may have to experiment a little to get what feels right to you and see how it affects your skin. Stay well hydrated is also important. Drink water.
If you have high humidity it means there is too much moisture in the air. We control our body temperature by sweating. When there is excess humidity, our sweating does not cool us off as well. The air around us is already full of water, so it does not evaporate away our sweat, so we feel and get hotter. Our sweat also stays in contact with our skin longer and this is not good for the skin. It can develop red, irritated patches, and the sweat that stays there can irritate and clog pores and get itchy and rashy.
In very damp climates people often get weepy or oozing skin conditions, from all that excess dampness, showing up on your skin. This is why conditions like athlete’s foot or jock itch or even weepy rashes are often worse in humid weather.
So, when it is damp you need a dehumidifier. Trying to lower the humidity with the air conditioner will cause the above problem.. Try to keep yourself cool by using a fan and dressing in fabrics that breathe and if you are still suffering, gently wipe away excess perspiration so it does not sit there and irritate your skin.
What you need depends on where you live -a humidifier or a dehumidifier or both. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers recommend keeping humidity between 30% and 60%.
Most modern humidifiers and dehumidifiers have read-outs that will tell you the current humidity and allow you to set the desired humidity also.
Tags: dry skin care, skin care