Introduction

Every year, as the dry season arrives across northern Nigeria, the harmattan winds sweep in from the Sahara Desert bringing dust, dryness, and a wave of health problems that affect millions of families. In Gombe State and across the northeast, harmattan season is one of the most challenging times of year for health, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with existing respiratory conditions.

The good news is that most harmattan-related health problems are preventable with the right knowledge and simple protective measures. This guide covers everything you need to know about protecting your skin, your chest, and your eyes during harmattan season.

What is Harmattan and Why Does It Affect Your Health?

Harmattan is a dry, dusty wind that blows from the Sahara Desert across West Africa, typically between November and March. In northern Nigeria, it arrives with extremely low humidity, dropping to as low as 10 to 15 percent in some areas. It carries fine dust particles that settle on everything including your skin, eyes, and lungs.

The combination of cold dry air and dust particles is what makes harmattan particularly damaging to health. Your body is designed to function in a certain range of humidity. When the air becomes extremely dry, your skin cracks, your airways dry out, and your eyes lose their protective moisture layer.

Skin Care During Harmattan

The skin is your body’s largest organ and its first line of defence against the environment. Harmattan attacks it in multiple ways, stripping away natural oils and moisture and leaving skin dry, cracked, and sometimes painful.

Common Skin Problems During Harmattan

• Extreme dryness and tightness of the skin, especially on the face, hands, and legs
• Cracked heels and lips, which can become painful and bleed
• Itching and flaking skin, particularly in children
• Worsening of eczema and other existing skin conditions
• Dry, chapped lips that crack and peel

How to Protect Your Skin

• Moisturise immediately after bathing, while your skin is still slightly damp. This locks in moisture. Use thick creams or body lotions, not thin water-based ones that evaporate quickly.
• Apply petroleum jelly or shea butter to very dry areas like heels, elbows, and knees. These create a protective barrier against moisture loss.
• Use lip balm or Vaseline on your lips throughout the day, especially before going outside.
• Avoid bathing with very hot water during harmattan. Hot water strips away the natural oils your skin needs. Use lukewarm water instead.
• Stay well hydrated throughout the day. Aim for roughly the equivalent of about 8 glasses of fluids daily, remembering that hydration comes not only from drinking water but also from other beverages and foods such as fruits, soups, and vegetables.
• Cover exposed skin when outside in dusty conditions. Long sleeves and wraps protect your skin from the abrasive dust particles.

Recommended Products from Amkamed Pharmaceuticals

Visit Amkamed Pharmaceuticals for thick moisturising creams, petroleum jelly, shea butter products, and medicated lip balms suitable for adults and children. Our pharmacists can recommend the right product for your skin type.

Chest and Respiratory Care During Harmattan

The respiratory system takes a particularly hard hit during harmattan. Dust particles in the air enter the nose, throat, and lungs with every breath. For people with asthma, children, and the elderly, this can be especially dangerous.

Common Chest and Respiratory Problems

• Harmattan cough — a persistent dry cough caused by dusty, dry air irritating the airways
• Worsening of asthma symptoms, sometimes triggering severe attacks
• Sore throat and nasal congestion from dust and dry air
• Bronchitis and chest infections, particularly in young children
• Nosebleeds caused by the dry air drying out the nasal lining

How to Protect Your Chest and Respiratory System

• Wear a face mask or wrap a scarf around your nose and mouth when outdoors, especially on very dusty days. This helps filter dust particles before they enter your lungs.
• Keep windows and doors closed during peak dusty periods, typically in the morning and evening when harmattan winds are strongest.
• Some households use humidifiers to add moisture to indoor air during very dry conditions. While the scientific evidence for health benefits is limited, some people find them helpful for comfort. A simple alternative is placing bowls of water around the room to slightly increase indoor humidity.
• Stay well hydrated. Drinking adequate fluids helps keep the lining of the nose and throat moist, which helps trap and expel dust particles.
• If your child has a persistent cough during harmattan, do not immediately assume it is an infection. It may be harmattan-related. Visit a pharmacist or doctor before giving antibiotics.
• Asthma patients must keep their inhalers with them at all times during harmattan season and should see their doctor before the season begins to review their management plan.
• Avoid burning bush, wood, or rubbish near your home during harmattan. Smoke combined with dust is extremely harsh on the lungs.

When is a Cough More Than Just Harmattan?

See a doctor if the cough is accompanied by fever, if your child is having difficulty breathing, if there is chest pain, or if the cough has lasted more than two weeks with no improvement. These signs suggest an infection rather than simple harmattan irritation.

Eye Care During Harmattan

The eyes are extremely sensitive to the dusty, dry conditions of harmattan. Dust particles can scratch the surface of the eye and cause infections, while the dry air evaporates the tear film that normally protects the eye.

Common Eye Problems During Harmattan

• Red, itchy, and irritated eyes from dust exposure
• Dry eyes caused by reduced tear production in dry air
• Conjunctivitis (Apollo), which spreads rapidly during harmattan season in Nigeria
• Eye discharge and crusting, especially upon waking in the morning
• Blurry vision from dust particles on the eye surface

How to Protect Your Eyes

• Wear sunglasses or protective eyewear when outdoors. This creates a physical barrier against dust particles.
• Use artificial tear eye drops if your eyes feel dry or irritated. These are available without a prescription at Amkamed Pharmaceuticals.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes with your hands, especially outdoors. This pushes dust particles further into the eye and can cause scratches on the surface of the eye.
• If dust enters your eye, rinse gently with clean water. Do not rub.
• Wash your hands frequently, especially before touching your face or eyes.
• If you develop conjunctivitis (red eye with discharge), visit Amkamed Pharmaceuticals for advice and appropriate eye drops. Many cases of conjunctivitis are viral and usually resolve on their own within several days, but proper guidance helps prevent complications and reduces spread to other family members. Do not share towels or pillowcases with infected family members.

Special Advice for Children During Harmattan

Children are particularly vulnerable during harmattan because their immune systems are still developing and they spend more time outdoors.

Key steps to protect your children include:

• Apply a thick moisturiser to your child’s skin every morning before school and again in the evening after bathing
• Dress children in layers so they can adjust to changing temperatures during the day
• Make sure children drink enough fluids throughout the school day
• Put a light scarf around a child’s nose and mouth during very dusty conditions
• Monitor children for coughs, eye discharge, and skin rashes and act early before conditions worsen

Your Harmattan Survival Checklist

Stock these items at home before and during harmattan season:

• Thick body moisturiser or petroleum jelly
• Lip balm or Vaseline
• Artificial tear eye drops
• Face masks or scarves for outdoor use
• Cough syrup suitable for your family (ask your pharmacist which is right for your age group)
• Nasal saline drops for blocked noses, especially for children
• Your asthma inhaler if you are an asthma patient, with enough refills

Conclusion

Harmattan season does not have to mean weeks of suffering with dry skin, a persistent cough, and irritated eyes. With the right preparation and simple daily habits, you and your family can stay healthy and comfortable through the dry season.

At Amkamed Pharmaceuticals, Gombe State, we stock everything you need for harmattan season. From moisturisers and eye drops to cough medicines and asthma inhalers, our team is here to help you build your harmattan health kit. Visit us before the season peaks so you are prepared.

Need harmattan health products? Visit Amkamed Pharmaceuticals, Gombe State, or read more at amkamed.com. Stay protected this dry season.