Does wet hair give you a cold? What the research says
- Claim
- WET HAIR GIVE YOU A COLD?
- Catch
- STILL NEED A VIRUS
- Verdict
- CATCH VIRUSES, NOT CHILLS
Lab tests show cold viruses multiply faster in cooler air inside your nose, but cold air doesn't create a virus — you still need to catch one from someone else. Colds spike in winter mainly because we crowd indoors, close together. Being cold may slightly weaken your nose's first defense, but it doesn't infect you. Hand-washing matters more than avoiding drafts.
SOURCES
- Foxman et al. (2015), "Temperature-dependent innate defense against the common cold," PNAS
- Eccles (2020), "The common cold," clinical review
- CDC, "Common Colds: Protect Yourself and Others"
For information only, not medical advice.
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