Dr. Sulaiman Ladhani, consultant pulmonologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, told The Indian Express that although air purifiers do not remove moisture directly, running them for long hours in sealed rooms can reduce indoor humidity.
“Low humidity can irritate the nose, throat, and airway lining,” he said. “This may lead to dryness, scratchiness, coughing, and burning eyes. Clean air matters, but what your lungs really prefer is clean air with healthy moisture levels.”
Dr. Ladhani clarified that he is not advising people to stop using air purifiers altogether, but to operate them more judiciously.
“The solution isn’t to stop using them; it’s to use them wisely. Switch to auto mode, run them for a few hours at a time, and avoid long stretches in fully sealed rooms to prevent dryness,” he suggested.
He added that pairing air purifiers with a humidifier, a bowl of water, or even a damp towel can help maintain optimal humidity—ideally between 40% and 60%.
He also listed common symptoms associated with excessively dry indoor air, including persistent throat irritation, morning nosebleeds, dry cough, and flaky skin.
“Many people blame pollution alone for these symptoms, but very dry indoor air is often an overlooked factor,” he noted.