How Air Conditioning Affects Your Body (And Easy Ways to Feel Better)

This summer has been super hot! We’ve had one heatwave after another, with barely any cool days in between. When it’s that warm, it’s really tempting to turn on the air conditioning (AC) and blast the cold air.

AC is great for helping us escape the heat. But doctors say it can also cause some surprising side effects on your body.

General practitioners (also called GPs — these are regular family doctors) have shared five surprising ways AC can affect you, plus their top tips to reduce those annoying effects.

Important Point: Air conditioning cools the air by removing humidity (the wetness in the air). That dry air can affect your skin, eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and even give you aches!

1) Skin

Spending a long time in AC can dry your skin out.

Dr Opel Baker, a GP at Mayfield Clinic in Brighton & Hove, explains:

• AC removes humidity from the air to make us feel cool
• But it also makes your skin lose more water
• This can cause:
  • Dry skin
  • Tight-feeling skin
  • Flaking
  • More sensitive skin
  • Eczema (a red, itchy skin problem)
  • Chapped lips (cracked, dry lips)
• If you already have dry or sensitive skin, AC can make it worse

2) Eyes

AC can also dry your eyes out.

• Your eyes might burn or sting
• Very rarely, you might get blurred vision
• People who wear contact lenses may feel more discomfort

Dr Baker’s tip: Blink a bit more than usual! That helps your eyes feel better.

3) Nose and Throat

Your nose and throat like to stay moist. When AC dries them out:

• You might get a sore throat
• Your nose might feel blocked
• Your voice might become hoarse (scratchy)

Dr Lucy Hooper, a London GP and co-founder of Coyne Medical, adds:

• A dry nose and throat make it harder to clear mucus
• Mucus is part of your body’s defense system against germs
• Some people may get nosebleeds because the inside of the nose cracks easily
• Blowing or picking your nose too hard can cause bleeding

4) Lungs

If an AC unit is not cleaned well:

• It can spread dust, pollen (tiny particles from plants), and mould (tiny fungi)
• These can irritate your lungs
• They may trigger asthma (a condition that makes breathing hard)
• You may be more likely to get chest infections
• If you already have a lung problem, an infection can be especially bad

5) Aches

Ever stayed in a hotel with AC and gotten a headache or body aches?

Dr Baker says this can happen because:

• Your skin gets dry
• You become dehydrated (your body lacks water)
• Cold air flow can make your muscles tense
• Dehydration is usually the main cause, but AC makes it worse

What Can I Do to Stop These Irritating Effects?

Here are simple tips from the doctors to help you feel better around AC:

Stay Hydrated

• Drink lots of water during the day (Dr Baker’s advice)

Moisturise Your Skin

• If you’ll be in AC a long time, put on moisturiser first
• It creates a barrier so your skin loses less water
• Look for products with humectants (ingredients that grab moisture)
  • Examples: glycerin or hyaluronic acid
• Dr Hooper says humectants coat the skin and keep it moist

Buy House Plants

• House plants add moisture back into the air (Dr Hooper)

Protect Your Lips

• Use a nourishing lip balm (Dr Baker)

Buy Some Eye Drops

• Contact-lens wearers: wear lenses less, or use eye drops (Dr Hooper)

Change the Position of the Air-Con Vent in Your Car

• Point car AC vents away from your face and eyes (Dr Baker)

Keep Your AC Unit Clean

• At home: service it and use clean filters
• In hotels/offices it’s harder, but at home you can control it (Dr Baker)

Get a Humidifier

• A humidifier puts moisture back into the air at home (Dr Baker)

Adapt the Times You Use Air Conditioning

• You may not need AC early morning at home or office (Dr Hooper)
• Wait until afternoon when it’s hotter to turn it on

Important Point: You don’t have to suffer with dry skin or sore eyes! Simple steps like drinking water, using moisturiser, and cleaning your AC can help a lot.

Summary

Air conditioning keeps us cool in hot weather, but it removes moisture from the air. This can lead to dry skin, dry eyes, sore noses and throats, lung irritation, and headaches or body aches. Doctors recommend drinking water, moisturising, using house plants or humidifiers, protecting lips and eyes, keeping AC clean, and not overusing it. With these easy tips, you can stay cool and comfortable!

FAQ

1. Why does air conditioning dry my skin?
AC removes humidity from the air to cool it. That makes your skin lose water, leading to dryness and tightness.

2. Can air conditioning make me sick?
If not maintained, AC can spread dust, pollen, and mould that irritate lungs or cause infections. Dry airways also lower your natural germ defense.

3. What is a humectant?
It’s an ingredient (like glycerin or hyaluronic acid) in creams that helps hold moisture in your skin.

4. Are contact lens wearers more affected by AC?
Yes, they may feel more eye discomfort. Using eye drops or wearing lenses less can help.

5. Do I need to stop using AC completely?
No! Just use it wisely, keep it clean, and follow the tips like drinking water and adding moisture to the air.