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Anyone who goes out with wet hair will catch a cold – is that true?
If you go outside with wet hair on a cool fall or winter day, you’ll catch a cold – that’s what many people believe. But are they just perpetuating a myth?
We all know it: sometimes you have to rush after showering in the morning and there’s no time left to blow-dry your hair. So you quickly put your hair in a braid and went outside – even in low temperatures in autumn and winter. Many people will now hear their mother’s warning ringing in their ears: “Child, if you go out into the cold with wet hair, you’ll catch a cold.” But is that really true?
The connection between colds and cooling the body is controversial, as a review from 2014 shows. But what is certain is that wet hair cannot cause a cold. Viruses are responsible for causing us to catch colds. Without the pathogen, infection is simply completely impossible. And you become infected via droplet infection – for example if a colleague who has a cold coughs on you.
Wet hair alone does not cause a cold
But what influence could wet hair have on the development of a cold? “Wet hair makes the cold much worse because the water evaporates and the scalp cools down even more. This can cause the mucous membranes to contract,” general practitioner Johannes Wimmer told “DocCheck”. The viruses attack the mucous membranes. One thought: Due to the contracted mucous membranes, the body’s defense mechanism no longer works as well. This is a possible explanation.
Sore throat, diarrhea, sleep disorders: you should know these seven home remedies
Home remedy for a sore throat: sage tea
The name of the sage plant comes from the Latin word “salvare”, meaning to heal. In fact, the plant has an antibacterial effect and inhibits the growth of viruses and fungi. In addition to the antiseptic effect, there are decongestant and vascular sealing properties, and the thujone contained in the essential oil has a pain-relieving effect. The experts from Commission E, an expert committee for herbal medicines, therefore recommend gargling with sage tea for mouth and throat infections.
Recipe
➝ Pour half a liter of boiling water over a teaspoon of dried sage leaves.
➝ Let it steep for ten minutes and drain the tea.
➝ Gargle with it several times a day until the symptoms subside.
© vicuschka / Getty Images
So that means: Wet hair can potentially promote a cold. However, the fact that you automatically get sick if you go out into the cold with wet hair is just a myth.
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Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
