During intense heat in Spain, pharmacists advise people to use fans thoughtfully. A fan moves air but does not lower the room’s actual temperature. The breeze feels cooling because it helps sweat evaporate and increases heat transfer from the skin. Prolonged, direct airflow may also increase moisture loss from exposed surfaces and aggravate dryness or irritation around the eyes, lips and skin.
Karla Pires, a pharmacist and quality manager at Planet Skin, says continuous airflow can increase moisture evaporation from the skin’s surface. The movement of water out through the skin is known as transepidermal water loss (TEWL). The lips and eyes may be particularly uncomfortable: lips have a delicate barrier and no sebaceous glands, while moving air can destabilize the tear film and contribute to dryness, itching or a gritty sensation.
People with sensitive or reactive skin, a tendency to redness, contact-lens use or pre-existing dry eye may find sustained airflow especially irritating. As Pires notes, the fan itself is not inherently harmful. Discomfort is more likely when air blows continuously across vulnerable areas. A fan generally redistributes the room’s air rather than changing its humidity, so it can feel drying even when relative humidity remains unchanged.
General Optica specialists recommend moderate fan use and suggest keeping room temperatures between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius. They advise against directing airflow at the face, recommending instead that fans circulate air around the room or blow indirectly. Oscillation or aiming the fan toward a wall can keep air moving while reducing continuous exposure to the eyes and facial skin. The suggested temperature range is practical advice, not a universal medical threshold.
Air movement can cool the body by accelerating sweat evaporation, but a fan does not remove heat from the room. In extreme heat above about 35 degrees Celsius, a fan alone may not adequately protect older adults, infants or people with cardiovascular conditions. A cooling breeze should not be mistaken for protection against heat illness.
To support the skin, Pires recommends summer skincare products with hydrating or barrier-supporting ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, centella asiatica, ceramides, panthenol or glycerin. Lightweight gels and gel-creams may feel more comfortable in warm weather. Persistent eye or skin symptoms warrant professional advice; avoiding direct airflow across the face is a practical first step.
These recommendations come as Spain and other parts of Europe contend with periods of extreme heat. During the Tour de France, organizers and teams have also used cooling strategies to protect athletes, as detailed in this report on cycling teams’ heat management. The focus on hydration and skin protection reflects wider efforts to manage heat-related risks in daily life and professional sport.
At home, the practical approach is to avoid prolonged direct airflow at the face, use oscillation or indirect positioning, and pay attention to symptoms. People with sensitive skin or existing dryness may be more prone to discomfort. Anyone experiencing persistent irritation can seek advice from a pharmacist or clinician.
Spain’s Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) provides official weather warnings and station-level observations, including temperature extremes. Checking local forecasts and alerts can help people assess heat conditions and choose appropriate cooling measures. During severe heat, fans can improve comfort, but they should not be the only safeguard for people at higher risk.
