Everyone has done it – after a long day you jump in the shower, wash your hair, don’t have the energy to blow dry it, so you go to bed with a wet head.
Well, it turns out your mom was right. You should never sleep with wet hair.
Jumping out of the shower and into bed can cause all kinds of scalp, hair and even respiratory problems, including infections, breakage and an overgrowth of fungi, including ringworm, which can lead to bald spots.
Dr. Noelle Sherber, a dermatologist, said germs and bacteria ‘thrive in warm, moist environments’, meaning that when you sleep, these grow on your head and transfer to your pillow and bed – causing a whole host of problems.
Going to bed with a wet head can cause serious damage to your hair – which turns from elastic to brittle when wet
She told Lure: ‘Certain bacteria and fungi thrive in warm, moist environments and will therefore spread to the skin of the scalp if it remains moist for hours.
‘Most often a type of yeast called Malassezia can build up on the scalp and cause scaling which can be mistaken for dandruff.’
Malassezia can also cause itchy pimples on the face, scalp and upper body.
Sleeping on wet hair can also cause acne and pustules, which are small inflamed blister-like sores that are filled with pus and can be extremely itchy or painful.
The infection, called bacterial or fungal folliculitis, is common and most likely will not lead to any major side effects.
However, the bumps can be persistent and difficult to treat depending on whether they are caused by bacteria or fungus, and severe cases may need to be treated with oral medication.
Another infection that can develop from sleeping on wet hair is fungal acne. This will cause small red bumps on the face and sometimes on the upper body.
Dr. Sherber said: ‘I have diagnosed patients with this and traced the cause of sleeping with their face on a damp pillow to going to bed with wet hair.’
In addition to skin problems, a serious concern for doctors is possible respiratory problems from a damp head.
Dr. Cindy Wassef, a dermatologist in New Jersey, told Yahoo, going to bed with wet hair can lead to respiratory problems because damp pillows and bedding can promote mold growth, which can irritate the respiratory tract.
Apart from the effects on the body, going to bed with a wet head can cause serious damage to your hair – which becomes elastic and fragile when wet.
Dermatologist Dr. Ife Rodney also told Yahoo that the combination of increased elasticity and fragility can cause hair to break, and for that reason, she recommends letting hair dry completely before hitting the pillow.
Sleeping in wet hair can also cause or worsen dandruff.
Of course, to avoid problems, experts recommend drying hair before bed, but if that’s not possible, they suggest tying long hair back in a loose ponytail or sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase, which can reduce friction on your locks.
Sleeping in a satin headgear can also protect your hair.
In addition to hair care, doctors say it’s important to regularly wash pillowcases, which are prone to bacteria build-up, and you should change or wash them weekly.