3 health effects of dry airRegardless of the time of year, dry air can have a range of different effects on your body. It can be something as minor as fly-away hair and dry skin, to something a bit more serious such as nosebleeds and asthma symptoms.

Let’s take a closer look at three problems dry air can cause, and the easiest way you can help reduce these issues.

Health Effects of Dry Air

Respiratory Ailments

Whether it is the middle of winter and the air is dry, or an air conditioner is keeping the moisture content in the air low in your workplace, dry air can seriously affect your respiratory tract.

As your bronchial tubes become dry due to the quickly evaporating moisture, your airways will become susceptible to irritation or infections. This can eventually lead to a host of problems including asthma symptoms, sinusitis, bronchitis, and more.

Eye Irritation

Dry air can reduce the thickness of the protective film on your cornea. This film is heavily dependent on moisture levels in your body and in the environment around you, and as it dries up it can leave your eye susceptible to irritation.

Dry eyes can become itchy, red, may water profusely, and may make your vision blurry. If you are working in a climate controlled environment where moisture may be evaporating too quickly from the air, be sure to use eye drops regularly to help prevent eye irritation.

Dermatitis and Dry Skin

One of the more common issues of dry air can be seen on your skin in the form of dermatitis. Dry, rough, flaking skin not only looks unsightly, but if left untreated can lead to more serious and long lasting eczema symptoms.

Try applying hydrating lotions such as cocoa butter, vitamin E gels, and other sources that can help restore your skin’s moist surface layer.

Consider Using a Humidifier

Most dermatologists would recommend home and workplace humidity levels to be between 30 and 50 percent in order to keep your respiratory tract, eyes, and skin moist and healthy. If you’re having trouble maintaining this level of humidity due to summertime air conditioning or heating throughout the winter months, consider using a humidifier.

These devices can be found in both small desktop sizes, and larger commercial sizes to help restore moisture to the air around you. Their entire purpose is to add more moisture into the air around you by heating it up and releasing it as steam.

The tiny water particles in the steam will dissipate into the air of the room around you and improve your overall comfort levels and health. When used over the long term, a humidifier can potentially eliminate a variety of respiratory symptoms, can reduce the effects of dry skin, and can completely reverse eye irritation.

In addition to using a humidifier for moisture in the air, some humidifiers can also be used with essential oils to help create a relaxing space indoors whether you are at home or work.