I’m an expert and here’s how risky it really is to go out in the cold with wet hair

BRITS have been told to brace themselves for wash out weather today as storm Eunice wreaks havoc across the country.

But if you really must venture outside, should you be doing so with wet hair?

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We’ve all had the concerned chat from friends and family members.

You’ve just washed your hair but you’ve not got enough time to towel or blow dry it.

You’re just about to step outside when someone shouts ‘you can’t go out with wet hair, you’ll catch a cold!’

While it’s a familiar saying in households across the UK, one expert has revealed whether it really is a risk to your health by going outside with wet hair.

Expert Kristoffer Ahlerup, director at Enzymatic, which manufactures ColdZyme, said despite what your parents and grandparents may have told you, wet hair doesn’t actually cause a cold.

“The cold itself is caused by infection from a common cold virus (of which there are thought to be more than 200 variants).

“However, if the immune system is already weak becoming very cold can further weaken it.

“Wet hair in cold conditions can lead to a drop in body temperature which can have a negative effect on a weakened immune system, so it is best to avoid going into the cold with wet hair”, he said.

While the coronavirus is still circulating – it’s getting even harder to know whether or not you in fact, have a cold or if you have the Omicron variant.

The Omicron strain is milder and most people do suffer with cold-like symptoms.

Common cold symptoms typically last one to two weeks according to the NHS, with anything lasting longer than three weeks as worth checking with your doctor.

Depending on the virus, as well as the age of the person and their individual immune system, symptoms can vary hugely and include sore throat, headache, fatigue, blocked or runny nose, sneezing and coughing.

GET WELL SOON

If you’re unlucky enough to have caught a cold – there are some things you can do to ease the symptoms.

Kristoffer said that getting enough sleep, drinking lots of water and sleeping with an extra pillow could all help soothe your symptoms.

He added: “When you are all congested and stuffy it can be more difficult to sleep.

“And if the mucus trickles down the back of your throat onto your soft palate, it can make you cough. Sleeping with a propped-up pillow can help mucus to drain.”

As well as this, he said you can also try remedies such as gargling with salt water, using a menthol or eucalyptus oil or using a mouth spray.