If you bathe or have bathed before bed, you have probably wondered if it is bad to sleep with wet hair. Maybe you’ve heard that it could make you sick or that it could damage your hair or your skin. What is true and what is false?
CAN WE GET SICK?
The cold seems to be the most common concern thanks to folklore and protective mothers and grandmothers.
During an interview for Time magazine , Dr. William Schaffner, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said:
“There is no evidence that one can catch a cold by falling asleep with wet hair, ” Schaffner said. “When you catch a cold, it is because you are infected with a virus . “
It is true that a common cold is much more likely to develop during the winter months. But this has to do with the way respiratory viruses proliferate and spread, he said. “You can’t catch a cold from being cold,” he added.
FUNGAL INFECTIONS
Although sleeping with wet hair won’t catch a cold, Dr. Chirag Shah, an emergency doctor and co-founder of Push Health, said:
“It does increase the risk of developing a fungal infection of the scalp . “
Fungi, such as Malassezia , can cause conditions such as dandruff or dermatitis, according to Shah, who recommends sleeping with dry hair whenever possible.
Some research has shown that pillows, especially those made with synthetic materials, can harbor fungi and molds that trigger asthma or allergies.
These microorganisms tend to work well in humid environments, as do dust mites , says Dr. Payel Gupta, a certified allergist and spokesman for the American Lung Association.
An earlier study on fungal flora found in bedding discovered between 4 and 16 species per pillow tested. This included Aspergillus fumigatus , a common species of fungus responsible for causing serious infections in people with weakened immune systems. It can also make asthma symptoms worse.
Also, Gupta said that if we wake up with a stuffy nose, itchy eyes or tearing, respiratory problems or other allergy symptoms, and even without any of those mentioned, you should wash the pillowcases and sheets with hot water at less once a week to reduce your exposure to potential irritants.