Have you been getting tiny electric shocks any time you touch something? Whether it be a bottle of water, the fridge, your notebook, or even a family member?
The first thought any sane person would get is that they are finally becoming a mutant or superhero with the power of electricity in some shape or form. Alas, that is not the case, and all our hopes have been dashed.
These small electric shocks are actually static shocks that are a pretty common phenomenon where one can experience a small current of electricity due to extremely dry weather and lack of humidity in the environment.
What Is The Static Shock Phenomenon?
The phenomenon of static shock or static electricity happens when there is an imbalance between positive and negative charges.
Experts say dry air can increase the number of people experiencing this. This is because the lack of moisture prevents electrical charges from being conducted away from the body.
This, in turn, can allow the static charges to build up over your body through friction. Electric shocks can then be experienced when you come into contact with conductive objects because the contact causes that collected static charge to be discharged.
Naresh Naidu, founder, Gemini Technical Advisors Private Limited, has explained this as “It is the build-up of charge caused by the body collecting electrons from the objects and surfaces around. The charge continues to accumulate until it gets the opportunity to flow into another object with a weaker or opposite charge.”
Over the years, several people have also posted about it on social media platforms.
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Dr Nidhin Mohan, consultant, internal medicine, Narayana Health City speaking about this said, “In Bengaluru, these static shocks that many people experience during Feb are largely due to dry air… As humidity falls below 30%, which is common around this time, dry air prevents electrical charges from dissipating easily. When we walk around, static electricity builds up on our bodies, and the moment we touch a metal surface, it discharges, causing the shock.”
He also added that dry skin can enhance this phenomenon and advised people to keep their skin moisturised in order to reduce experiencing this shock.
Dr Nasiruddin G, consultant-internal medicine, Fortis Hospital, claimed that the presence of carpets in offices and homes can lead to static shocks. He said, “Dry air is a poor conductor of electricity, allowing static charges to accumulate on surfaces, including our bodies. The transition from winter to summer creates fluctuating atmospheric conditions, further increasing the likelihood of sudden charge transfers. While static electricity isn’t dangerous, it can cause mild discomfort, skin irritation and in some cases, stress or anxiety. We’ve even seen a few patients this month coming in with concerns about these shocks.”
Dr. Jane Thompson, MD, Dermatologist, New York University Medical Center, has also spoken about common static shock during winter.
She said, “Dry skin is a major factor contributing to static buildup. During the winter, the lack of moisture in the air can make skin more susceptible to developing an electrical charge. This is why people may experience more static shocks during the winter months. Moisturizing regularly can help reduce this, as hydrated skin has a better capacity to balance out electrical charges.”
Professor Laura Jensen, PhD, Materials Science, Stanford University, also points out that synthetic fabrics can lead to an increase in static electricity: “Synthetic materials, such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic, are more likely to generate static electricity when they come into contact with other materials, particularly during dry conditions.”
Although most experts believe that static shocks are experienced more frequently during winters, due to the dry weather, the recent heatwave in Delhi and other parts of India also seems to be creating similar conditions.
While still in April, the weather in Delhi has already been touching in the 30s, with the temperature touching almost 37 degrees in mid-March 2025.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Times of India, Deccan Herald, The New Indian Express
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This post is tagged under: Electric Shocks, Electric Shocks reason, Electric Shocks humans, Electric Shock humans, Static shock, Static shock season, Static shock humans, Static shock reason, Static shock season india
Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, or copyright over any of the images used, these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly mail us.
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