With the hot nights, the shower can be a very refreshing option but there is one important thing to keep in mind: do not go to bed with wet hair. The reason? It can damage not only the hair, but also the scalp and can even increase the risk of infections in the respiratory tract.
From the Ibero-Latin American College of Dermatology (CILAD), Dr. Trinidad Montero warns of the health consequences of going to sleep with wet hair and gives guidelines to avoid them.
Montero, who is a specialist in the area of Dermatology at the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital in Granada, explains that going to bed with wet hair encourages the entry of water droplets into the cuticle – the layer that covers the hair fiber and protects the hair from damage.
Most vulnerable hair
The expert explains that the alteration of this natural shield causes the hair fibers to become more vulnerable to radiation, microorganisms but also as an insulator and regulator of the body temperature.
Without the hydration and lubrication of that cuticle, the member of the Spanish Association of Dermatology and Venerealology (AEDV) also states that the hair loses its shine and becomes “finer and more brittle, which also leads to undesirable aesthetic problems.”
Risk of infections
But going to bed with wet hair can also increase the risk of infections. This is because, according to Montero, a humid environment encourages the growth and multiplication of microorganisms, such as the malassezia fungus.
This fungus, the CILAD dermatologist continues, can increase flaking, itching and seborrheic dermatitis.
It also favors the bacteria staphylococcus aureus, responsible for scalp infections.
And humidity and the proliferation of microorganisms can cause bad scalp odor and even increase the risk of respiratory tract infections.
This risk is a consequence of excessive environmental humidity.
Tips on wet hair
That being the case, Montero advises going to bed with dry hair, not only to improve the quality of sleep, but also to take care of our health when we wake up because, he insists, “wet hair is more fragile and prone to breakage.”
It can also cause tangles and split ends, which can lead to many hair breakages. hair fibers with hairstyle.
The dermatologist recommends protecting the health of the hair by using a microfiber towel that absorbs excess water without damaging the hair cuticle and allowing the hair to be partially air-dried or by using a hairdryer.
If you choose to dry your hair with this small appliance, the CILAD expert stresses that it should be done at a low or medium temperature to prevent damage from the heat.
(With information from EFE)
:
