humidifier for acne

Should You Use a Humidifier for Acne?- You May Be Surprised

Humidity for Acne?

Low humidity and acne are not 2 topics that you may think have much to do with each other.

Or if you are like me, you would probably guess that humidity, especially high humidity, would result in having a worst case of acne or pimple breakout.

As it turns out, both are true. But not for the same reasons.

Dry air affects your skin one way and humid air affects your skin another way.

Dry conditions can cause small cracks on the epidermis that expose nerve endings in the deeper layers of skin to the outside world. The result? Itching, flaking, and more sensitivity to products and the environment. says Hadley King MD

The damage caused by dry skin also allows the bacteria that causes acne to be very deep into the skin.

Dry skin can also release a counter balancing reaction in your skin that creates an overabundance of oil to maintain hydration.

This all adds up to fertile ground for acne to flourish.

It’s a common story to hear of someone who lives in a dry cold climate expressing their amazement at how their complexion clears up when they go on a vacation somewhere humid.

Being in an environment where the relative humidity is 40 to 60% has a way of repairing dry skin.

But unfortunately not all of us live in an area where the humidity is that easy to come by.

Or, Will we be traveling to a vacation island anytime soon.

And it does not help any that during the dry cold season, the heater is running non stop drying out the air.

And in the summer, the AC is dehumidifying to counter the heat.

And don’t forget the fan blowing on you constantly.

So how do you offset the lack of humidity and create a hydrated space for your skin to repair itself and give you the moisture you need for a great complexion?

One of the best ways you can combat dry skin and acne caused by dry skin is keeping a humidifier running in your home and next to your bed while you sleep.

A warm mist humidifier or steam humidifier will restore the humidity level in your room to an optimal level and also open up your pores, which will help remove the bacteria and oils that are at the root of acne breakouts.

Also Humidifiers, unbeknownst to many people, are actually great air purifiers all on their own.

Why is that? 

When the air is dry, dust and bacteria are free to flow throughout the airstream. But when you add moisture to the picture, the airborne particulates become too heavy to float and fall to the surface.

A great multifunction warm mist / cold mist humidifier with a built in hygrometer we suggest is the Levoit LV600HH.  Check the price out here.

You’re probably thinking, That’s all good in the winter but …

What about humidity pimples?

Doesn’t high humidity cause acne?
Actually the opposite is true, humidity actually keeps your skin hydrated and healthier.

But humidity also causes sweat. And when you sweat, your body produces extra oils and expunges toxins and salt, which all come to the surface of your skin.

In which the most common thing to do is to take your already sweaty shirt and wipe your face with it, basically wiping the dirt and oil right into your pores.

Another thing to remember is that dry skin is not solely a winter cold season problem.

There are many reasons your skin may be dry.

For instance, swimming in a pool with chlorine will dry your skin out and swimming is typically thought to be more of a summer activity.

Soaps and detergents also have drying agents in their ingredients.

Being in a dusty room is also a sure way to dehydrate your skin.

The bottom line is your skin it’s meant to have a level of moisture in it and whether the climate is the cause or whether there’s an environmental problem, you have to find a way to keep your skin moist regardless.

Humidifiers have one job and that is to add moisture to the air with the goal of maintaining a relative humidity from 40 to 60%.

Humidifiers are actually the best all natural skin moisturizer you can own.

Humidifier vs diffuser for acne

Diffusers are a type of humidifier that  disperse aromatherapy essential oils into the air along with humidity.

And though it is true that there are essential oils that are responsible for removing bacteria in the air,

Many essential oils can be a skin irritant. So it is not recommended to use a diffuser as a steam humidifier to open up your pores.

It’s also important to remember that dogs and cats are particularly sensitive to essential oils that contain menthol.

Other types of appliances that add moisture to the air include facial hydrators, evaporative coolers, and air washers.

Facial hydrators are a type of steam humidifier that are meant to be used to clean and moisturize your face. Strictly a beauty product.

Evaporative coolers are air conditioners that blow air over water too cool a room. They also go by the term “swamp cooler” because of the level of humidity that they can add to a room.

Air washers are a type of air purifier that use water to filter air.

Humidifier for acne?

Believe it or not, the good old humidifier may be the best all-natural skin moisturizer you can buy.

Keeping the relative humidity at a healthy level in your home or room is one of the easiest and best ways to combat dry skin and ward off outbreaks.

And whether you’re suffering from dry skin because of the climate you’re in or if there’s an environmental issue like harsh soaps or chlorine you’re dealing with,

The simple solution of increasing the humidity may be what the doctor ordered.

Published by

Dennis Reed

Dennis Reed Owner and Author @ BreatheBetterAir.org