Does a Humidifier Help Dry Skin? Indoor Heating and Eczema-Prone Skin
Will Shi
The heater comes on, the house gets cozy, and your skin starts to feel tight again.
If that sounds familiar, you're not imagining it.
Many of you notice dry, itchy skin get worse once the cold months arrive, even when you spend most of the day indoors.
A big part of the reason is the air inside your home.
This note looks at whether a humidifier can help, and how to use one safely.
The short answer
A humidifier may help dry skin feel more comfortable by adding moisture to dry indoor air, and dermatologists list it among their tips for dry skin. Mayo Clinic suggests keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%. It works best alongside regular moisturizing, and it needs to be cleaned often.
Why Does Indoor Air Get So Dry in Winter?
Humidity levels tend to be lower in winter.
Heating makes it drier still. Mayo Clinic notes that central heating, wood-burning stoves, space heaters and fireplaces all lower the humidity of the air.
So the warm, cozy room you come home to is often a very dry one.
(For more on what cold weather does to your skin, see Why Does My Skin Get Drier When the Weather Turns Cold?)
How Does Dry Air Affect Eczema-Prone Skin?
Low humidity can dry out your skin.
For eczema-prone skin, whose barrier may already have a harder time holding moisture in, that can mean more tightness, roughness and itch.
Does a Humidifier Help Dry Skin and Eczema?
It can be a helpful comfort step. The AAD includes a humidifier in its tips for relieving dry skin, and suggests running a portable one in your bedroom while you sleep.
It's worth being honest about what a humidifier is and isn't, though.
- It isn't a treatment for eczema. Think of it as one way to make your environment a little kinder to your skin.
- It doesn't replace moisturizing. Your skin still needs regular care, especially in winter.
- More isn't better. Air that's too humid can encourage mold and dust mites, which can be a problem for people with allergies or asthma.
What Humidity Level Is Best?
Mayo Clinic suggests keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%.
The easiest way to know where you are is a hygrometer, a small device that measures moisture in the air.
If you notice condensation on windows or damp spots on carpets or walls, the air is too humid. Turn the humidifier down or run it less often.
How to Use a Humidifier Safely
Keep it clean
A humidifier that isn't kept clean can grow bacteria. Mayo Clinic suggests:
- Empty, dry and refill the tank often, ideally every day, especially with cool-mist and ultrasonic models.
- Clean it every three days, unplugged, following the manufacturer's instructions.
- Change filters at least as often as the manufacturer recommends.
Use distilled or demineralized water
Tap water contains minerals that can build up inside the machine and be released into the air as fine white dust. Mayo Clinic and MedlinePlus both suggest distilled or demineralized water. Check your humidifier's manual as well.
Cool-mist or warm-mist with kids at home?
Warm-mist humidifiers and steam vaporizers heat water, and they can cause burns if a child gets too close or knocks one over. Mayo Clinic advises against steam vaporizers in homes with children, and MedlinePlus recommends cool-mist models, especially for children.
How to Set Up Your Bedroom
Night is often when dryness and itch feel worst, so the bedroom is a good place to start. (See Why Is Eczema Worse at Night?)
- Run it while you sleep. The AAD suggests placing a portable humidifier in the bedroom overnight.
- Give it some space. MedlinePlus suggests keeping it several feet (about 2 meters) from the bed.
- Keep the room comfortable, not hot. Aim for a temperature you can sleep well in.
- Moisturize before bed. (For the full evening routine, see Building a Nighttime Routine That Works for Eczema-Prone Skin.)
Other Ways to Help Your Skin in Heated Rooms
- Keep the thermostat moderate. Comfortable rather than hot is a gentler setting for many people.
- Don't sit right next to the heater. Space heaters and fireplaces lower the humidity of the air, and sitting close to one can feel especially drying.
- Moisturize more often. Your skin may need an extra layer during the day in winter. (See How to Build a Simple Daily Moisturizing Routine for Dry, Eczema-Prone Skin.)
- Keep showers short and lukewarm. Hot water on a cold day is tempting, but it can add to dryness. (See How to Shower When You Have Eczema-Prone Skin.)
When to Talk to a Professional
A humidifier and good daily habits can make winter more comfortable, but they aren't always enough. If your skin is very itchy, cracked, painful, bleeding, oozing or looks infected, or isn't improving with gentle care, consider talking with a dermatologist or another qualified healthcare professional.
If you or someone in your home has asthma or allergies, it's also worth asking your doctor before running a humidifier, and checking with your child's doctor about humidity for young children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a humidifier help eczema?
It may help eczema-prone skin feel more comfortable by adding moisture to dry indoor air. It isn't a treatment on its own, and works best alongside regular moisturizing.
What humidity is best for dry skin?
Mayo Clinic suggests keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%. A hygrometer can help you check.
Is cool-mist or warm-mist better for a child's room?
Cool-mist is generally recommended for homes with children, because warm-mist and steam models can cause burns.
Should I sleep with a humidifier on?
Many people do. The AAD suggests running a portable humidifier in the bedroom overnight. Keep it clean and several feet from the bed.
Can I use tap water in my humidifier?
Distilled or demineralized water is usually recommended, since tap water minerals can build up and be released into the air. Follow your humidifier's instructions.
🌿 One Note to Remember
Your skin feels the air around it, all day and all night.
A little moisture in the room can make a kinder place for it.
Understanding your skin, one note at a time.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic: Humidifiers: Ease skin, breathing symptoms
- American Academy of Dermatology: Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin
- MedlinePlus (NIH): Humidifiers and health
- Mayo Clinic: Dry skin: Symptoms and causes
This article is for general education and isn't a substitute for advice from your doctor.