Is Air Conditioning Bad for Your Skin? Here’s What You Should Know

Air conditioning is a saving grace during the hot and sticky summer months. But although it may be tempting to want to crank it up and bask in its refreshingly cool breeze, doing so could have a negative impact not only on your wallet but also on the appearance of your skin. Just like indoor heating, air conditioning can zap the moisture in the air, causing dry or dehydrated skin over time. 

We’re not suggesting that you abandon air conditioning altogether this summer if you don’t have to, but with the help of Dr. Nazanin Saedi, a Philadelphia-based board-certified dermatologist, we’re sharing some recommendations for how you can keep your skin hydrated and comfortable while you stay cool. 

How Air Conditioning Affects Skin

“Air conditioners pull moisture out of the air to reduce the humidity in the room,” says Dr. Saedi. “When the air in the room is dry, it makes your skin drier by pulling the water out of the skin.” A dry, dehydrated complexion can also make the skin appear dull and uneven and make fine lines and wrinkles look more pronounced. 

How to Help Combat the Effects of Air Conditioning on Skin 

Exposure to air conditioning is just one reason why you still need to moisturize in the summer. Dr. Saedi recommends looking for a lightweight formula that contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid or, better yet, both. “Ceramides help to strengthen the skin barrier and hyaluronic acid helps keep the moisture in your skin,” she explains.