If you spend just 5 minutes on Instagram, you will undoubtedly encounter a handful of high brow content creators and celebrities boasting the incredible benefits of regular humidifier use for your skin, your hair, your newborn, and your general peace of mind. 

Humidifiers are everywhere, and they are here to stay.

So, what’s the deal with humidifiers? 

A humidifier is a device that disperses moisture into the surrounding environment to elevate the relative humidity of a particular space. There are three types of humidifiers: ultrasonic humidifiers, evaporative humidifiers, and vaporizers.

In this post, we will focus specifically on ultrasonic humidifiers and answer a few of your most pressing questions on the topic, including:

• What is an ultrasonic humidifier?
• How does an ultrasonic humidifier work?
• What are the pros and cons of an ultrasonic humidifier?
• How do you clean an ultrasonic humidifier?

For more information on vaporizers, you can read our blog Humidifier vs. Vaporizer. 

The Ultrasonic Humidifier

An ultrasonic humidifier is, of course, a humidifier. As we mentioned in the introduction, a humidifier elevates the relative humidity of a particular space. So an ultrasonic humidifier elevates relative humidity. 

As with evaporative humidifiers and vaporizers, an ultrasonic humidifier has a water reservoir, which it draws from to disperse moisture into the surrounding environment. An ultrasonic humidifier, however, uses a metal diaphragm to create the fine mist, which ultimately escapes the device and enters your space. 

So, how exactly does an ultrasonic humidifier work? Let’s dive deeper. 

How Does an Ultrasonic Humidifier Work?

Though the term “ultrasonic” sounds complex and oddly similar to language used in Star Trek, the technology is pretty simple. 

At the bottom of the water reservoir on an ultrasonic humidifier is a small, metal diaphragm. This metal diaphragm uses high-frequency sound vibrations to propel tiny water droplets through the nozzle and into the surrounding environment. When the microscopic water droplets enter the air, they evaporate and leave the air around the humidifier more hydrated than before. 

Since ultrasonic humidifiers do not heat the water in the device tank, they are considered “cool mist” humidifiers alongside evaporative humidifiers. Vaporizers are considered “warm mist” humidifiers since they boil the water from the water tank to create vapor, which is released into the room with a slight warming sensation.

The Pros and Cons of an Ultrasonic Humidifier

Any smart shopper would weigh the pros and cons of a device before making a purchase. To help you determine whether an ultrasonic humidifier is right for you, let’s weigh the pros and cons of this particular style of humidifier.

The Pros

• The ultrasonic humidifier does not use a filter, which requires less operational work on your part.
• Ultrasonic humidifiers and evaporative humidifiers are considered the safer option if you plan to use the humidifier in your child’s room. Warm mist humidifiers are classified as a burn hazard by the American Academy of Pediatrics. 
• The metal diaphragm of an ultrasonic humidifier requires very little space, which allows for a smaller design. As a result, ultrasonic humidifiers are available in very compact sizes (there are some ultrasonic humidifiers that you can just drop into a glass of water). 
• Ultrasonic humidifiers are very quiet, and make only a slight humming sound.
• Ultrasonic humidifiers are energy efficient, particularly when compared to vaporizers. 

The Cons

• Since the ultrasonic humidifier does not have a filter, it requires distilled water to prevent mineral buildup in the device tank. If you plan to use your humidifier regularly, the cost of distilled water for your humidifier could add up.  
• The lack of a filter in the ultrasonic humidifier also creates room for bacteria growth and mold growth in the water tank, which could be dispersed into your room without knowledge.
• Ultrasonic humidifiers can then expel this mist from your device, which can land on hard surfaces, curtains, bedding, and other materials adjacent to the device further exacerbating the spread of bacteria and mold, which can be incredibly harmful to you and your family if left unattended.
• If you are looking to use a humidifier as a noise machine for your newborn, the ultrasonic humidifier will not provide an effectively calming sound. 

Canopy Humidifier vs. Ultrasonic Humidifiers

Canopy humidifiers are designed with your safety in mind. For every con with the ultrasonic humidifier, Canopy has a solution. 

Canopy humidifiers are anti-mold. UV lights kill 99.9% of bacteria that can grow in the device water tank. What about that last 0.1% of bacteria? Canopy’s disposable paper filter swoops in at the last minute to ensure no bacteria or mold enters your environment. 

Canopy humidifiers are mistless. No mist, no mess. Canopy humidifiers expel pure, hydrated air rather than messy mist. You can sleep easy knowing that your Canopy humidifier is tidy and contained with no worry about messy mist ruining your fabric or wood surfaces. 

Canopy humidifiers are easy to clean. Cleaning your Canopy humidifier could not be any easier. Simply disassemble your Canopy humidifier and place all components in your dishwasher on a normal cycle. That’s it!

How Do You Clean an Ultrasonic Humidifier?

Cleaning your ultrasonic humidifier regularly is absolutely imperative to prevent harmful contaminants from entering your home air and to extend the longevity of your device. 

There are 5 steps to effectively cleaning your humidifier device:

1. Disassemble your device, removing all removable parts
2. Place all small, removable parts (without electrical components) in a vinegar soak
3. Scrub the inside of the water tank with a scrub brush
4. Wipe the exterior of the device with a vinegar soaked cloth
5. Rinse all parts (without electrical components) with fresh water and let them air dry on a cloth towel

How Often Should You Clean Your Ultrasonic Humidifier?

As a general rule of thumb, you should clean your ultrasonic humidifier every other use if you use your device weekly. 

If you use your humidifier a few times per month or less frequently, you should clean the device before each use to ensure that the water tank has not grown mold or harbored bacteria.

The average adult body is composed of 60% water. Isn’t that a trip? 

On average, more than half of your body composition is pure water! It is no wonder why health care professionals, nutritionists, and generally any individual with an understanding of human anatomy stresses the importance of sufficient hydration. 

Hydration is not only important for brain and heart health (each is composed of around 73% water), proper lung function, and other anatomical functions. Hydration is a crucial component of overall skin health. Before we go over some tips for healthy skin, let’s review the importance of staying hydrated.

Why is it important to keep skin hydrated?

The skin is composed of three layers: the epidermis (the outer layer), the dermis (the thick layer beneath the epidermis), and subcutaneous tissue (the innermost layer). The epidermal layer of skin is layered with a thin film of water and lipids, which serves many functions. Some of these functions include:

• Protecting the skin from external irritants, bacteria, and pathogens
• Carrying nutrients to tissues and skin cells 
• Minimizing bodily water loss to the environment
• Repairing skin damage from environmental assaults 

When the skin lacks proper hydration, you will experience dryness, a tight feeling, and you may notice small or moderately sized cracks on the surface of the skin. An impaired skin moisture barrier can increase the potential for infection, burns, or may trigger existing skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. 

If none of this compels you to monitor the level of moisture in your skin, how about this: dehydrated skin accelerates the aging process and exaggerates the appearance of fine lines, crow’s feet, and wrinkles. No, thank you!

How to hydrate skin

Your skin needs some TLC, especially during the fall and winter months when dry winds and cold air draw moisture from the body and into the environment. The best way to hydrate your skin is by drinking enough water, applying hydrators and moisturizers when needed, and using a humidifier to manage home humidity levels. 

Drink water

How many times did your parents or guardians exclaim: “You need to drink more water!” when you were growing up? While you could probably care less at the time, they had a point: drinking water is the most effective way to keep your body functioning at full capacity. 

According to a study conducted by the Institute of Medicines of the National Academies, women between the ages of 19-30 years of age should consume 2.7L of water (including from beverages, food, and pure water sources) per day while men of the same age range should consume 3.7L.  

The best way to achieve this total water intake is to get a reusable water bottle from Yeti or Hydroflask and refill that bad boy throughout the day with water or unsweetened tea.

Use a quality moisturizer

A quality moisturizer is a helpful tool to keep in your skincare arsenal to ensure healthy skin. A moisturizer creates a protective film on the skin with the use of humectants to prevent moisture loss into the environment.

When searching for the best moisturizer for your skin, look for the following ingredients in the ingredient labels: hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, and essential oils (coconut, argan oil, jojoba, avocado, marula, rosehip, and calendula are the most effective for skin hydration). 

Use a humidifier to monitor home humidity levels

A common culprit of dry, dehydrated skin is a low level of humidity in the home. During the winter months, home humidity levels tend to drop significantly with the use of central heating, which can exacerbate the symptoms of dehydrated skin. 

Relative humidity (RH) levels in the home should sit between 30% and 50% for maximum comfortability. If RH falls below 30%, or you prefer a higher level of humidity in your home, closer to 50% and a hygrometer reads closer to 30% or 40%, you need a humidifier. 

Placing a humidifier on your bedside table at night can help prevent water loss, improve skin elasticity, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Additional tips for healthy skin

Drinking an adequate amount of water, using quality skincare products, and incorporating a humidifier in your home will improve the overall moisture content of your skin. There are, however, additional measures you can take to ensure healthy skin now and into the future. 

Here are a few skincare best practices to help you maintain hydrated, supple skin all year long:

• Turn down the heat! Reduce the temperature of your bath or shower and keep them quick. Excess heat can accelerate water loss from the skin.
• While you’re at it, pat don’t rub your body down with your towel after the shower to retain moisture and avoid irritation.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. Always apply sunscreen whether you can see the sun, or if it’s raining. If you can’t avoid the sun, use a floppy hat or an umbrella for protection.
• You are what you eat. Adding foods rich in fatty acids like salmon, olive oil, walnuts, and avocados to your diet can help enrich your moisture barrier. Avoid processed sugars when you can, and drink that water and tea!

We have all been there: knees and elbows that itch with dry, flaky skin… Hands with slight cracks at the creases… chapped skin around your nose… 

Dry skin is particularly frustrating and exhausting when you cannot quite nail down the source. You may apply a light moisturizer in the morning or in the evening, but it hasn’t completely cured your dry skin. What should you do?

We have the answers! But first, let’s talk about the prominent causes of dry skin. 

What Causes Dry Skin?

Dry skin is a common condition caused by a number of factors. The most common dry skin offenders are: weather, hot showers and baths, or harsh soaps. 

Weather

Weather and seasonality are responsible for most cases of dry skin. The frigid air of the winter months causes the skin to lose water at an accelerated rate as the lower temperatures zap moisture from your body straight into the atmosphere. 

The warmer, summer months can also dry out your skin. Extended exposure to the sun accelerates water loss, creating that dry, dehydrated feeling after a long day at the beach or the pool.

Hot Showers or Baths

While scalding hot showers feel delightful during the cold, dry winter months, they can wreak havoc on your skin. Extensive exposure to high water temperatures from your shower, a hot tub, or a hot bath can strip your skin of natural oils and moisture. 

Harsh Soaps 

Depending on your daily routine or profession, you may have regular exposure to harsh, drying soaps or detergents. 

Many dish soaps contain an ingredient lineup that would make you blush, but we use them bare-handed to keep food from crusting on our dishes and causing a health hazard. Yikes!

If you are a hairstylist or a medical professional your hands are likely submerged in water for sanitation constantly. The excessive exposure to water and chemicals from detergents and hand soap strips the natural oils from your hands leading to dryness, irritation, and (in severe cases) cracking or bleeding.

How to Treat Dry Skin

If your severely dry skin does not improve with various lifestyle changes, if you notice redness and inflammation, if you have any open sores or large areas of skin peeling, you should visit your dermatologist. 

More often than not, however, you can diagnose and treat your dry skin with simple lifestyle changes, a few products, and a little TLC. 

Tip #1: Reduce Your Shower Time

Ideally, lukewarm or cold showers are preferable for optimal skin health. That being said, we understand that lukewarm or cold showers during the winter months sound like a form of torture. If you can’t manage to reduce your shower temperature a few degrees, try reducing your shower time to the bare essentials (pun intended). 

Tip #2: Choose the Right Moisturizer

Incorporating a moisturizer into your daily routine works wonders on improving your skin’s moisture content. In fact, applying moisturizer directly after your (hopefully warm not hot) shower while your skin is still slightly damp will help to seal in hydration for long term benefits.. 

While there is no one size fits all miracle moisturizer that works for every skin type, there are a few key ingredients to identify when browsing the endless options in the skincare aisle:

• Humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and lecithin are key ingredients that help to attract moisture to the skin
• Denser ingredients like petroleum jelly, lanolin, mineral oil, silicones, or natural plant butters (like shea butter, cocoa butter, and jojoba butter) create a thick protective layer that seals in hydration. These types of ingredients are best before bed to reduce moisture loss through the night.
• Natural oils like avocado oil, coconut oil, argan oil, and olive oil contain essential fatty acids that help to soothe and protect the skin.

Tip #3: Layers are Your Friend

Scarves, mittens, beanies, and puffy jackets were created for a reason. These winter staples were created to protect your delicate skin from the harsh elements. A great way to reduce your chances of developing chronic, seasonally-induced dry skin is to cover up. 

Covering up does not just include your winter wardrobe. Using lots of blankets for cover during the winter months will allow you to keep your thermostat at a moderate 72 - 75 degrees. The less dry heat you blast into your home, the better your chances of keeping well-hydrated skin all year long. 

How a Humidifier Can Help with Dry Skin

Sometimes you need a little extra help. A humidifier can provide additional hydration to your skin when moisturizers, shorter showers, and limited exposure to the elements just doesn’t cut it. 

How it Works

“You should drink 8-10 glasses of water per day.” 

Chances are you have heard this recommendation countless times throughout your life. While we generally think about how important water is for our insides, we rarely think about how important water is for our largest organ: our skin.

The outermost layer of the skin is the stratum corneum or the “moisture barrier.” This protective layer ensures the lower layers of skin (the dermis and the hypodermis) remain hydrated, nourished, and protected at all times. 

The optimal concentration of water in your skin is between 10-30%. When the skin evaporates water more rapidly than it is replenished, it will become dry, itchy, red or inflamed. 

A humidifier elevates the moisture content of a particular space. This elevated moisture sits on the skin and is ultimately absorbed by the moisture barrier and delivered to the lower layers of the skin. The result is a supple, hydrated complexion.

Canopy humidifiers are the best kept secret for hydrated skin. Canopy is designed for all skin types, and is proven to help your skin in the following ways:

• Soothe red, dull, and rough skin
• Smooth fine lines and wrinkles
• Fortify your skin barrier to help protect against bacteria and irritants
• Increase efficacy of topical skincare products
• Combat dryness and sensitivity