A lot of people believe sleeping with wet hair might cause some problems. Some think it could make you sick, while others say it could damage your skin and hair. But, what's the truth? Is sleeping with wet hair good or bad?
First, let's talk about sleeping with wet hair can make you sick. Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said this is old folklore and it was long ago disproved.
Although it's true you might catch a common cold during the winter season, this has nothing to do with sleeping with wet hair, TIME reported. The truth is, as per Dr. Schaffner, respiratory viruses proliferate and spread on the cold environment. So, even if you sleep with wet hair, you wouldn't catch a cold.
Another myth about sleeping with wet hair is that harmful bacteria tend to colonize your pillow. Dr. Schaffner explains Illness-causing bacteria and viruses do not appear spontaneously, so it's unlikely you'll get sick by getting your pillow a little bit damp. However, there's still an exception. A study revealed that some pillows - particularly those made with synthetic materials - could harbor asthma or allergy-triggering molds and fungus.
Dr. Payel Gupta, a board-certified allergist and a spokesperson for the American Lung Association, noted that such microorganisms usually live in a damp environment, like dust mites. While there's no evidence those sleeping with wet hair experience more allergy or asthma symptoms, if you wake up with itchy or watery eyes, stuffy nose, and breathing problems, maybe it's time to change pillow sheets and cases. It is recommended to wash them with hot water at least once a week to reduce your risk to possible irritants.
Meanwhile, there are some risks for hair and skin when sleeping with wet hair. According to Dr. George Cotsarelis, a professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, water can degrade a hair follicle's protective outer layer - known as the cuticle. Once it breaks down, water could penetrate it and rupture the inner cortex of the follicle. This may lead to breakages and a loss of shine and elasticity.
But, a lot of people who sleep with wet hair don'ts seemed to experience a problem at all. Another research also found that sleeping with wet hair might be helpful. The study revealed that cooling your head every night could help calm the metabolic activity of the brain, promoting better sleep.
