Common Myths About Personal Habits: Debunking Health/Cosmetic Effects

Different habits that people do daily are sometimes labeled as not being good for their health, but do they really occur?

1. Wet Hair

   Warnings are sometimes given to people who leave the house without properly drying their hair in case they catch a cold. Although it is said with good intent, colds cannot be caught with a certain part of the body being cold (in this case, wet hair being chilled from the air). The Common Cold is transmitted through the intake of bodily fluids (that hold viruses), and wet hair would not play a part in catalyzing that process. ("Can Wet Hair") In reality, the most common way of catching such viruses is through contact, direct or indirect. ("Can You Catch a Cold")

   A probable reason why this false reasoning has been spread is that the symptoms of a common cold show around 1-3 days after contact ("Common Cold"), which gives leeway for the cold to be caught in a legitimate way instead. Going outside with wet hair does bring up the symptoms faster, which gives more reasoning for why it could be mistaken that the myth is true.

   
   

   Another common myth is that a person can catch a cold if they sleep with their hair still wet. Again, because viruses do not transfer through a cold body part, this is not true. What can occur from sleeping with wet hair is a fungal infection of the scalp, which can bring dandruff or other dermatitis-related symptoms. A person going to sleep without drying their hair may also experience breakage, due to the action of moving or turning during sleep, damaging the hair that is brittle from the water. (Longhurst)

   
   

2. Cracking Knuckles

   People, often children, are told to refrain from cracking their knuckles to avoid the risk of getting arthritis. The action of cracking knuckles is simply to release the nitrogen gas in the fluid between our joints, so there would be no harm to bone health over time. ("Is Knuckle Cracking") The risk that would come with regularly cracking knuckles is damaging ligaments or tendons, which do not have a role in causing arthritis. ("Does Cracking Knuckles")

   
   

3. Reading in Dim Light

   The main worry about reading in dim light is that it could damage a person's eyes. While it does not have any long-term effects, it does have negative effects that are temporary.

   Reading in dark lighting can cause eye fatigue or eye strain. (Mann) This is due to the lack of light making the eyes work harder to read text, but this can be fixed with time in a well-lit environment. Whether the dim light is what is available or simply is just a preference, the act would not damage a person's eyesight permanently.

4. Shaving and Hair Thickness

   While new hair growth after shaving may look thicker than before, the appearance is an illusion. New cuts of hair leave sharp, blunt ridges in the tip. (Mayo Clinic Staff) Usually, through time, the tip smooths out to create the "thin" look, similar to the ends of someone's eyelashes. Because the transition from blunt to thin is short, it can look like the hair became thicker.

   
   

   References “Can Wet Hair Make You Sick?” Mayo Clinic Health System, 7 Jan. 2020,  https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/can-wet-hair-make-you-sick.

   
   

   “Can You Catch a Cold by Going Outside with Wet Hair?” University Hospitals, 22 Nov. 2021, https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2021/11/can-you-catch-a-cold-by-going-outside-with-wet-hair.

   
   

   “Common Cold.” Mayo Clinic, 8 June 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/symptoms-causes/syc-20351605.

   
   

   “Does Cracking Knuckles Cause Arthritis?” Arthritis Society Canada,  https://arthritis.ca/living-well/2023/does-cracking-knuckles-cause-arthritis. Accessed 21 May 2025.

   
   

   Harvard Health Publishing. “Knuckle Cracking: Annoying and Harmful, or Just Annoying?” Harvard Health Blog, 14 May 2018,  https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/knuckle-cracking-annoying-and-harmful-or-just-annoying-2018051413797.

   
   

   Longhurst, Adrienne. “Is Sleeping with Wet Hair Bad for Your Health?” Healthline, 16 Mar. 2022, https://www.healthline.com/health/sleeping-with-hair-wet#health-risks.

   
   

   Mann, Denise. “Is Reading in the Dark Bad for Your Eyes?” WebMD,  https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/features/reading-in-dim-light. Accessed 21 May 2025.

   
   

   Mayo Clinic Staff. “Hair Removal: Which Method Is Best for You?” Mayo Clinic, 17 Dec. 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/hair-removal/faq-20058427.

   
   

   “Is Knuckle Cracking Bad for You?” Piedmont Healthcare,  https://www.piedmont.org/living-real-change/myth-buster-is-knuckle-cracking-bad-for-you. Accessed 21 May 2025.

   
   

   Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board