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In my experience, dry, cracked lips, asthma attacks, and a stuffed-up nose. The reason that humidifiers are a business is because low humidity can be uncomfortable.

Discomfort due to dry air is a major problem in airplanes. You may already have experienced it.

One of the main reasons why they recirculate some air instead of making it an open circuit is to conserve moisture. Outside air at high altitude is extremely dry. Moisturizers could be used but that would require heavy and therefore expensive water tanks.

To me the most noticeable problem is dry eyes, which makes me feel like I'm exhausted and falling asleep, even if I've had a good night's sleep. Before we got humidifiers it started the minute I walked into the office.

Also occasional nosebleeds.

If you have sensitive or dry skin, or something like eczema, it can (usually over long periods of time) cause some pretty severe issues if you don’t have enough humidity.