Humidity and your Skin

Living in the midwest, we are lucky enough to experience weather in all its possible iterations. Warm and humid in the summer al the way to its opposite winter season punctuated by the cold and dry. We all know about heat and cold, but how do humidity levels affect the skin?

Both dry weather and humid weather have their advantages and disadvantages.

For the most part, dry air means dry skin due to water loss, and the higher humidity, the better for your skin’s hydration levels. Low humidity and cold temperatures leave little holes in the skin barrier function and make it more susceptible to mechanical stress (chapping, chaffing, and cuts).

Researchers have found that lowering the average humidity by 30% can result in increased wrinkling by as quickly as 30 minutes. Over a longer period, low humidity heightened skin roughness, reduced skin elasticity, and exacerbated some skin conditions like eczema.

Whereas, a high humidity climate, your environment is great for your skin’s hydration levels, but increases the chance that harmful bacteria will take up residence on our skin. Excessive warmth and moisture can cause increased sweating, rashing, irritation, breakouts, and skin infections.

Skin prefers more temperate climates with a relative humidity between 30-60%. As we move toward our indoor months and rely on our heaters, it is important to make up for the lack of humidity with the use of humidifiers, both whole house and supplemental humidifiers, while you sleep. Hydrating serums, combined with moisturizers rich in ceramides, help to keep skin hydration levels from dropping. It’s important to remember with skin that early steps in prevention are the best way to avoid dehydration.