Heating can reduce indoor humidity, contributing to dry skin and eczema flares. Adding moisture to dry air can make skin less likely to itch, crack or chap. A humidifier adds moisture to the air while moisturizer traps water in your skin, so the bathroom shelf still has a job. Humidifying the room also helps avoid dry air during the winter heating season if you have eczema, a condition that causes itchy, inflamed skin.456

How should I use a humidifier for dry skin?

  1. 1Measure the room's humidity with a hygrometer, a device that measures moisture in the air. Some humidifiers have a built in humidity control.
  2. 2Run the humidifier when humidity falls below 30%, aiming to keep the room between 30% and 50%. Check the reading every few days rather than leaving the machine running unchecked.
  3. 3Follow the operating instructions for your model. Running time depends on the machine, room size and starting humidity, so there is no single schedule for every bedroom.
  4. 4Pair the humidifier with a gentle skin care routine. Take warm, not hot, showers lasting five to ten minutes, gently pat dry, and apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp.
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Where should I put a humidifier if my face feels dry at night?

Put a portable humidifier in your bedroom and run it while you sleep if the air is dry. A portable unit can serve the bedroom rather than requiring a central system for the whole house, which is a modest assignment for an appliance. Avoid confined spaces, where excessive moisture can encourage mold, mildew and bacteria. Use the room's humidity reading to decide whether overnight operation is needed.35

How do I keep the humidifier clean?

  • Use filtered, demineralized or distilled water to reduce the release of impurities into the air.
  • Change the water daily, and wash and sanitize the reservoir and filter systems every two to three days.
  • Follow the manufacturer's filter replacement instructions. Replace the humidifier if mineral deposits cannot be cleaned away.
  • Do not run the unit with vinegar in the reservoir. Check the manufacturer's instructions before adding anything, including essential oils; most humidifiers are not designed for them.
5

Should I change moisturizer when indoor humidity rises from 30% to 60%?

First, reduce the humidity: 60% is above the recommended indoor range. Turn down or stop the humidifier. If outdoor air is less humid, opening windows can help; in warm weather, air conditioning can lower humidity. Excess moisture encourages mold, and mold exposure can cause skin rashes and trigger asthma.27

Keep moisturizing if your skin still feels dry. A fragrance free cream or ointment is more effective for dry skin than a lotion. Apply it after washing and whenever your skin feels dry, which can mean several times a day. For nummular eczema, which causes patches of irritated skin, daily moisturizer remains part of care throughout the year. A lighter moisturizer can suit warm weather, but a humidity reading alone is not a reason to abandon a cream that your dry skin still needs.1346

When should I stop or get help?

Stop using the humidifier and contact a healthcare provider if you think it is affecting your breathing or health. See a dermatologist if dryness persists despite moisturizing and changing your routine, or if products burn, sting or irritate your skin. Persistent eczema can need prescription treatment even with careful moisturizing and humidifier use.135

Where this answer comes from

  1. 1Managing Eczema Flare-Ups in Winter and Summerhealth.clevelandclinic.org
  2. 2Care for Your Air: A Guide to Indoor Air Qualityepa.gov
  3. 3Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skinaad.org
  4. 4Eczema types: Nummular eczema self-careaad.org
  5. 54 Reasons To Run a Humidifierhealth.clevelandclinic.org
  6. 6Eczemahealth.harvard.edu
  7. 7Care for Your Air: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality | Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)19january2021snapshot.epa.gov