The colder months bring us many delights, such as the changing leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, and cozy afternoons in bed. However, this weather is not so delightful for your skin.

If you’ve found yourself plagued with dry, flaky skin that gets irritated even at the touch of your most trusted face wash, you’re not alone. 

Dry skin is a year-round problem, but the combination of cold air outside and dry air from heating systems that occurs in the winter months exacerbates this problem, particularly for people who have chronic conditions such as eczema. 

When not even your favorite moisturizer can help, it is time to mobilize the power of technology. 

If you’ve ever wondered how does a humidifier help with dry skin, here is exactly why this appliance needs to be your next winter purchase.

Table of Contents:

• What Does a Humidifier Do?
• Does a Humidifier Help with Dry Skin?
• Choosing the Right Humidifier
• Size
• Cool Mist or Warm Mist Humidifier
• Other Features
• Making the Most of Your Humidifier

What Does a Humidifier Do?

A humidifier is an electrical appliance that adjusts the humidity levels of your home by evaporating water inside a tank. 

The evaporated water then forms a mist that is released into the air, raising the humidity levels in an interior space.

According to doctors and the EPA, relative humidity levels should be between 30% and 50%. However, most heating systems dry out the air so that it is below the recommended levels. 

A humidifier will help bring those humidity levels back up by reintroducing moisture into the air.

A humidifier has many health benefits. Dry air can also dry out your nasal passages, causing asthma flare-ups, increased allergy symptoms, and even nose bleeds. 

A humidifier eases those symptoms and helps relieve any respiratory illnesses. It can even help you sleep sound!

Does a Humidifier Help with Dry Skin?

Besides its health benefits, a humidifier can also help you look better by combatting dry skin. 

Dry skin happens when the outer layer of your skin, which is normally 10% to 30% water, rapidly loses its ability to retain moisture. 

During colder months, water evaporates from skin faster because the air is cold and dry. This results in itchy and uncomfortable skin as well as redness, flakiness, and more pronounced wrinkles. 

A humidifier helps protect your skin’s moisture levels by maintaining a stable relative humidity in the air. This prevents water from evaporating from your skin as quickly. 

Instead of leaving your body, the water can do what it is supposed to do, such as flush out oils from your skin cells and keep your capillaries flowing.

Slathering on layers and layers of body lotion can make your skin feel better in the moment, but for lasting relief, you need to address the root cause of your skin problems, which is dehydration.

Using a humidifier in tandem with your skincare routine and drinking plenty of water can help you look and feel dewy, no matter the season. 

Choosing the Right Humidifier

The right humidifier will depend on a few different factors. Here is a guide to keep in mind when shopping for your skin’s secret weapon this winter.

Size

Humidifiers come in many sizes, depending on the size of the space that you want to treat. 

If you want to combat dry air in every room of the house, get a whole-house or in-duct humidifier. However, these systems tend to be more expensive and harder to install. 

Try portable humidifiers with a 1.2-gallon tank that target the rooms that you are in the most, particularly if you live in a small space.

You can even get a tabletop humidifier for your desk or office space. 

Cool Mist or Warm Mist Humidifier

Most humidifiers can be divided into two categories: cool mist or warm mist. Warm mist humidifiers work by heating the water to form steam that cools slightly before leaving the machine. By contrast, cool mist humidifiers just vaporize the water without changing its temperature.

Both types of humidifiers can help your skin stay dewy and hydrated. However, they each have their advantages and disadvantages.

Warm mist humidifiers have the advantage if you are worried about bacteria because heating the water also disinfects it. The warmer mist can also be pleasant during the winter. 

However, they can be a fire hazard if you do not set them up the right way. Experts do not recommend them if you have children or pets because they could hurt themselves while touching the humidifier.

Cool mist humidifiers are safer for children and pets. You can set them up safely near flammable materials. They are also more appropriate for use in the summer. 

However, during colder months, the cooler mist may feel uncomfortable.

Other Features

Many humidifiers come with extra features that you can select depending on your needs.

If you want to run a humidifier while you sleep, but you are worried about running it for too long, choose a humidifier with a sleep setting. 

Usually, a sleep schedule allows you to set the humidifier so that it turns off after a few hours. A humidifier with a sleep setting will also turn off any bright lights or sounds that could wake you up.

You can adjust the humidity levels and smell in your room thanks to a humidifier that has an essential oil diffuser. 

While adding oils to the tank will break most humidifiers, some models have a special compartment for an aromatherapy experience.

Making the Most of Your Humidifier

No matter which humidifier you choose, regular maintenance is key to maximizing your usage of this appliance. 

You need to clean your humidifier regularly with soap and water. This prevents mold and mildew from forming. 

For most humidifiers, use distilled water since scale and buildup is a byproduct of tap water. Some models are marked as tap water-safe.

Finally, be sure not to run it for too long because excess humidity in the air can cause mold and mildew to develop.

A humidifier is the ultimate weapon in your battle against dry skin. It combats environmental conditions that lead to redness, flakiness, and itchiness. 

Your humidifier can also help relieve other health issues, such as sinus problems and allergies. Beat the dry air this winter with a humidifier!