Does a Humidifier Really Help Your Skin?

In the winter when air is cold and dry, your skin will generally dry along with it. Your skin doesn’t retain as much moisture as it does in warm weather, and the air itself doesn’t have as much moisture to give. People often ask us if using a humidifier can combat the problem of dry skin, and the answer is yes! Humidifying air is a great way to keep skin moisturized.

Humidifier vs. DIY Methods

The easiest way to humidify the air in a room is to get a humidifier. Of course, there are do-it-yourself ways of humidifying a room. For instance, you can get houseplants (and keep them well watered). You can put bowls of water on registers, or you could even dry clothes on a drying rack instead of in a dryer. Any of these methods will at least help the humidity situation, but a humidifier is a much surer way. This means that your skin won’t crack or flake as often, and instead will become softer and more vibrant. Since dryness accelerates the aging process of your skin, added moisture can contribute to a healthier skin tone that doesn’t look as dry and damaged as skin often does during the winter months.

Related Benefits

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There is also some research to suggest that humidifiers don’t just help dry and itchy skin, but also smooth wrinkles by plumping up the skin and making it suppler. Also, when humidity helps the skin, that includes the skin in your nasal passages, which means that a humidifier will make you less prone to nosebleeds, snoring, and sinus infections, all of which are caused by dryness. You get nosebleeds when your nasal skin cracks. A dry nose contributes to a dry throat, which aggravates snoring and makes you sound hoarse in the mornings. Sinus infections and other congestion-related issues happen when your sinuses don’t drain properly. If your nasal passages are lubricated, however, you will start to heal faster. All of this means that you will also be saving money on your winter health care bills as you’re arranging your heating and air conditioning in Minneapolis.

Usage Guidelines

There are a few things to keep in mind in order to get the best results possible. For one thing, you should not over-humidify your air. The Mayo Clinic suggests that you keep humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent. You should also change your water every day so that it does not grow bacteria, fungus, or mold, which would be counterproductive. Also, you don’t just have to think about traditional humidifiers; you can get a windowless air conditioner that acts as a fan and an air cooler in addition to being a humidifier.