This week on Health Watch, we’ve been talking about dealing with winter. Dry indoor air can rob the skin of moisture, causing dry skin and making dandruff worse. It can also make breathing more difficult. An indoor humidifier can help, but be sure to use it properly and keep it clean.

Dr. Jane Siegel, an infectious diseases expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says for most people who get a couple of upper respiratory infections a year, just cleaning the humidifier with water and drying it thoroughly on a regular basis should be enough. Those with chronic lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis that make them more susceptible to infection should use disinfectant to clean humidifiers. Cool mist humidifiers may be less likely to become contaminated than hot-steam humidifiers.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/patientcare/medicalservices/infectious.html to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in infectious diseases.