When the temperatures climb, the fan is the first thing we reach for. But the thing that brings us relief in the room is quietly harming our skin - and more than we think, experts warn.

The problem is the constant flow of air. “Fans, whether fixed or portable, speed up the evaporation of water from the skin's surface,” a pharmacist explains. That means the airflow disrupts the skin's natural moisture and leaves it drier than it would be without one.

A few spots are most at risk. The lips, which do not have enough oil glands, crack easily under a constant stream combined with heat and sweat. The eyes are the second weak point - the air damages the protective tear film, so you get dryness, burning and a gritty feeling, especially for those who sleep next to a running fan. And people with sensitive skin suffer the most, because their barrier copes less well with external factors.

The answer is not to switch the fan off and roast. Experts advise keeping the temperature between 24 and 26 degrees, using a low or medium speed and, most importantly, never aiming the air straight at your face - especially while you sleep. To protect the skin, moisturising serums and gel creams with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, centella or ceramides help. So the fan stays - just set it to blow to the side, not straight at you.