I am a believer that people should try to learn at least one new thing each day.
Today, I learned the difference between a semipermeable membrane, one that allows particles to pass through it based on size, and a selectively permeable membrane that somehow decides or “chooses” what will pass through it.
The best example of the latter is human skin, the body’s largest organ and the protective layer that covers us from head to toe. This amazing substance has an enemy that can’t be avoided, and that is HVAC. Air conditioning has been a miracle since its 1902 invention. It first revolutionized workplaces needing humidity control and made living in places like Florida bearable. The problem is that its effect on our skin can be devastating. Skin needs moisture to stay healthy and the lower humidity in a room heated or cooled with dry air will make the skin shriveled and itchy. Skin can also lose its elasticity and ability to regenerate. That is one reason why skincare products that ward off the damaging effects of HVAC are a multi-billion-dollar industry. Before we pile too much blame on HVAC for our wrinkles and other skin ailments, consider that Mother Nature has been damaging people’s skin since the dawn of humanity. The effects of the sun are well documented, and dozens of sun-blocking lotions are available to prevent damage from harmful UV rays. People in cold climates often suffer from the dry itchy winter air that sucks the moisture from the skin. The good news is that humidifiers can keep a room’s humidity at acceptable levels to prevent skin damage. Applying moisturizing skin lotions is a small price to pay to enjoy the benefits of HVAC that include our year-round comfort and getting a good night’s sleep.