Find Out Why Your Eyes Tear, Throat Hurts And Skin Itches!

Find out why your eyes tear, your throat hurts and your skin itches whenever the PSI soars.

- Dawn Chen

You may sniff or tear more than usual whenever it’s grey and hazy outside. And on bad days, the choking air can cause you to start coughing, and develop a sore throat and skin rashes. What gives? Experts shed light on the different ways the haze can affect you.

Why do I get a sore, scratchy throat?

Haze contains irritants and particulate matter that can traumatise the lining of our air passages and throat, leading to inflammation, says Dr Valerie Tay, medical director and consultant ear, nose and throat specialist at Singapore Medical Group (SMG) ENT Centre. “This usually causes your throat to feel sore. The irritation can also lead to frequent coughing, which can further aggravate the inflammation of your voice box, which gives rise to pain and a hoarse voice,” she says.

Do my lungs get affected too?