Dry air pulls water from our bodies, making it hard for our skin, hair, and nails to retain moisture. The result can be itchy, flaky skin, cracked cuticles; nails that split more easily; and, for some, inflammation. Bathing in hot water also dries skin a lot.
Adding humidity to the air means less water evaporates from your body, says Steve Daveluy MD, associate professor and program director of the dermatology department at Wayne State University in Detroit. “We regularly recommend humidifier use in the dry winter months,” he says.
What else to do: Take shorter showers to reduce moisture loss, says Peter Burk, clinical associate professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y. Use a mild soap. Pat your skin dry and use a moisturizer that includes ceramide, adds Joseph L Jorizzo, MD, professor of dermatology at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. “That ingredient will help trap water against the skin,” he says.
The humidity in your home is an important factor in keeping you healthy. If the humidity is too low, you become more prone to sickness. If it’s too high, mold and fungi can grow in your house. You need the right balance to make the air healthy for you and your family.
Measuring Humidity
Home air quality testers can measure how much water vapor is in the air. Some hygrometers use a hair or fiber to detect humidity levels. Others use electrical sensors to measure humidity levels. The most accurate hygrometers are electronic instruments that read digital numbers on a display.
Relative Humidity
The amount of water vapor in the air isn’t measured directly by hygrometers. Instead, these devices measure relative humidity, which uses dry bulb temperature as a reference point. Relative humidity is a percentage indicating how much water vapor the air can hold at its current temperature. For example, a relative humidity measurement showing 50 percent means that the air can hold twice as much water vapor as it currently holds before reaching saturation.
Health Risks at High Relative Humidity
When relative humidity exceeds 60 percent, there’s an increased risk of airborne bacteria and viruses spreading diseases such as influenza and meningitis throughout your home. Fungi grow
It is important to ensure that the humidity in your home is at a safe, comfortable level.
Humidity is important to your health and the beauty of your home.
The humidity level in a home should be between 30% to 50%, according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers.