Why You Absolutely Need to Use a Humidifier During Winter
That dry air can seriously wreck your bod. (Photo: Shutterstock)
The combo of wool scarves, chilly winter winds, and overzealous radiators can leave your skin feeling totally parched. But the dry winter air can do a number on the rest of your body’s health, too.
Enter the humidifier, your BFF for the dry days ahead.
“The primary benefit is to combat skin dryness that often develops as a result of the winter environment and as the skin has a harder time holding on the moisture in the winter,” says Sejal Shah, M.D. a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. She highly recommends using one through the winter months—if not beyond—to save your moisture-sapped skin.
But derms aren’t the only ones toasting the health benefits of the humidifier this season.
“I am a big proponent of a humidifier, especially for people with sinus problems,” says Roheen Raithatha, M.D., an ear nose and throat doctor who specializes in nasal and sinus issues. “The warm, dry air especially during the winter can dry out the mucus in the nose and lead to crusting.”
Sexy (er…not).
Raithatha adds that sleeping in super-dry air can also cause nose bleeds. “A humidifier can moisturize the air we breathe in to reduce the dryness in the nose and allow the nose to more easily clear the mucus,” he says.
But before you become a humidifier addict, be aware of this: They’re notoriously hard to keep clean. “If they aren’t cleaned properly, bacteria or fungus can grow in them and be sprayed into the air,” says Raithatha. All that junk going into the air can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms, as well as lung infections—and it can also leave you feeling like you have the flu.
To keep your humidifier from becoming a breeding ground for bacteria, make sure you change the water daily, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning every few days.
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