In the intense heat of the summer it is impossible to be without air conditioning whether it is at home, the office, or in the car.
But have you noticed that after spending long hours in an air-conditioned room, your skin starts looking dull and loses its sheen?
The dry air of air conditioner pulls the hydration and moisture from the skin leaving it dull and lifeless and can even lead to signs of ageing.
Here are 5 ways long exposure to air conditioning can adversely effect your skin:-
1. Dehydration of skin.
The loss of humidity due to the air conditioner can disturb the hydration levels of the skin and leave it dehydrated.
So when you see your skin looking darker around the lips , making your makeup patchy, then maybe it’s due to the dehydration caused by being in the air conditioner for longer hours.
2. Premature ageing.
The dryness from air conditioners lowers the humidity levels of the room and this results in the loss of moisture from the skin.
This eventually makes the skin lose its firmness as well, and results in signs of ageing like sagging of skin and wrinkles.
3. Dry skin.
Sitting in the room with the air-conditioner for very long results in loss of moisture from the skin tissues resulting in dry and chapped skin.
A lower level of moisture in the skin cells makes the appearance of the skin dull and parched.
4. Slows the regeneration process of skin cells.
The air conditioner works by removing heat and moisture from the interior of the occupied space and this causes dehydration and dryness of the skin.
Research shows that this damage done to the skin slows the process of skin regeneration because it can’t repair itself effectively, which results in slower healing of the scars and marks.
5. Skin disorders
If you have sensitive skin that is prone to conditions like eczema, rosacea or psoriasis, then the dry air of the air conditioner can make it worse by disturbing the skin’s natural moisture balance.
How to avoid any damage done to skin by being in air-conditioned rooms for too long –
1. Keep yourself hydrated.
Drink lots of liquids. It’s easy to forget drinking enough water when you are not sweating in the cool air of the air conditioner.
But make sure you keep your water intake high because a recent study of 2015 shows that drinking more water can positively effect your skin’s health.
Drink fruit infused water if plain water is difficult to drink, but drink at least 8 glasses a day.
2. Keep misting the skin regularly.
The best way to rehydrate the skin especially at your work desk is to keep freshening up the skin with a revitalising facial toner spray.
Humectant mists are great to rehydrate the skin without messing up the makeup during the day.
Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin to restore the hydration balance of the skin.
My Pick-Forest Essentials Facial Tonic Mist Bela
https://www.forestessentialsindia.com/facial-tonic-mist-bela-50ml.html
3. Use Hydrating creams.
Keep rehydrating the skin with lotions and creams whenever possible.
This will help the skin to recover instantly from the loss of hydration caused by the air conditioners.
Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin to restore the hydration balance of the skin.
Make sure your skincare has it as a prime ingredient.
My pick-Biotique BXL Cellular Hydrating Lotion.
https://www.biotique.com/skin-care/moisturisers/bxl-cellular-hydrating-lotion.html
4. Take frequent breaks from the air conditioner
If you have no choice but be in an air conditioned room for longer hours, then you can just take short breaks and go out in more humid environment so the skin can get refreshed and reverse the damage done to it.
Take a quick stroll, pick your lunch, but make sure you move out every few hours.
Though the air conditioners have become a necessity to live comfortably in places with high temperatures, but as you can see now, excessive air conditioning can have adverse effects on your skin.
Switch off the air conditioners frequently or have them on a timer and take the necessary precautions to save your skin from its adverse affects.