Doctor debunks classic myth about catching colds from everyday habit

There's one classic piece that you've likely heard all your life from your parents and grandparents, and there's a good chance you'd pass it down to your children too, yet doctors have urged people to realize that it's all a myth.

It's almost guaranteed that you were told to not leave the house when its freezing outside if you've got wet hair or you're not wearing a coat in fear that you'd catch a cold, and that certainly makes sense as your body would be exposed to colder temperatures.

That's thankfully not how colds and similar illnesses work though, and it's actually safe to leave the house in these conditions — although not exactly advised due to the fact that it will still make you feel colder.

As shared by Cleveland Clinic, the reason for this being a myth is all to do with how you catch a cold and what a cold actually is, as family medicine specialist Matthew Goldman breaks it down.

"Hair being wet is not the cause for catching a cold," Dr Goldman asserts, illustrating instead that "a microorganism, such as a virus, has to be involved to cause a cold."

One doctor asserts that there is no link between having wet hair in the cold and catching an infection (Getty Stock)

It's not entirely a myth per se, as 'wet' hair specifically from sweat can prove to be a better environment for bacteria and fungi, making it more likely for an infection to occur, yet there is no correlation between having wet hair and cold weather in causing illness.

In fact, it's often the opposite that increases your risk of catching something, as staying indoors and huddling up close to one another to keep warm is going to dramatically increases the chances of infections spreading.

These infections are transferred through the air, and therefore are far more likely to pass from one person to another if confined in a small space and in close proximity, proving the opposite of the myth.

You're far more likely to catch a cold when huddled up inside compared to going out with wet hair or without a coat (Getty Stock)

"Colder air temperatures are better environments for viruses, such as the rhinovirus (the most common cause for the common cold), to travel through the air," Dr Goldman clarifies, adding that a lack of sun and vitamin D can weaken your immune system, but that's thankfully got nothing to do with a connection you might make between how cold you feel when leaving the house and an increased risk of infection.

Having wet hair does increase the risk of causing damage though as it leaves your luscious locks in a weakened state, making them prone to break easier, grow at a slower rate, and even look damaged, so you won't always want to have your hair feeling moisturized.