Every year, somewhere around the end of November, the air in Nigeria starts to feel different. Lips crack. Skin turns ashy. Mornings get cool, afternoons stay warm, and a pale haze hangs over everything. That is harmattan, and it is back, ready or not.
What harmattan actually is
Harmattan is a dry, dusty wind that blows from the Sahara Desert across West Africa. It usually arrives in late November and fades by around mid-March, though the exact timing and strength change from year to year. It is strongest in the north, where nights can get properly cold, and milder in the south, though Lagos and Port Harcourt still feel it.
Two things define it. The humidity drops sharply, so the air pulls moisture out of your skin, nose and throat. And the wind carries fine dust, which is what causes the haze. When the haze is thick, visibility falls, and flights are sometimes delayed or cancelled.
Looking after your skin
Dry skin is the most common complaint and the easiest to fix.
- Moisturise straight after bathing, while your skin is still slightly damp. That is when it holds moisture best.
- Use something thick. Shea butter, petroleum jelly and heavier body creams work better than thin lotions at this time of year.
- Do not forget your feet, elbows, knees and hands. Those are the places that crack first.
- Try not to bathe in very hot water. It feels good, but it dries your skin out further.
Lips, nose and throat
Lip balm is not optional in harmattan. Apply it often and put a layer on before you sleep. If you get dry nostrils or occasional nosebleeds, which are common in children and adults during this season, a little petroleum jelly just inside the nose can help, and drinking more water helps too. A sore, scratchy throat is often just dry air. Warm drinks and plenty of water usually settle it.
If a nosebleed will not stop, or a cough lingers for weeks, see a doctor and do not wait it out.
Breathing and allergies
Dust irritates the airways. People with asthma or allergies often struggle more in harmattan, so keep your inhaler or prescribed medication within reach and take any preventive treatment your doctor has given you. A simple face mask on dusty days helps, and so does wiping surfaces at home with a damp cloth and not a dry duster, which just moves the dust around.
Eyes
Dust and dry air can make eyes itchy and red. Try not to rub them. Rinse with clean water, wear sunglasses outdoors, and ask a pharmacist or doctor about eye drops if the discomfort keeps up.
Hair
Dry air is hard on hair too, especially natural hair. Moisturise more often, seal with a light oil, and consider protective styles that keep the ends tucked away. Cover your hair at night with a satin scarf or bonnet.
Your home, car and gadgets
- Dust gets into everything. Keep food covered and wipe counters more often than usual.
- Close windows when the wind is heavy and open them again when it settles.
- Wooden furniture can dry out and crack, so wipe it with a lightly oiled cloth now and then.
- Clean air vents on laptops, game consoles and phones. Dust clogs them and makes devices run hot.
- If you drive, change or clean your air filter more often than usual.
The upside
Harmattan is not all bad. Laundry dries in an hour, the evenings are cool without being cold, and many people find it the most comfortable stretch of the year for sleeping. Drink your water, moisturise like it is your job, and you will come out the other side with your skin and your patience intact.
