Migraine episodes aren’t always severe and could start off mild. If left untreated, they can progress and become more severe.

There have not been any recent medical studies evaluating the benefit of modern migraine hats or caps. However, the principle behind these hats — cooling as a form of migraine relief — has been in use for years. Prevention is often the best treatment for migraine episodes. Examples of preventive methods a doctor may prescribe include: Finally, we consulted with two neurologists and migraine experts to make sure we knew exactly what to look for when shopping for migraine hats, as well as how they work and who might benefit from using one. Experts we spoke to include: While Dr. Natbony notes that everyone will have a different preference in terms of style, design, and extra features, there are a few key things you should look for when shopping.

According to Dr. Natbony, research has shown that temperature therapy (both cold and hot) combined with compression can help reduce migraine pain. While there isn’t much research on migraine hats specifically, there’s no reason to think they can’t work well to provide this kind of relief. That said, migraine hats work well for some people, especially those who find cooling therapy helps them manage their symptoms, but not for others. Burch R, et al. (2018). The prevalence and impact of migraine and severe headache in the United States: Figures and trends from government health studies.

Loder S, et al. (2015). The prevalence, burden, and treatment of severe, frequent, and migraine headaches in US minority populations: Statistics from national survey studies.

What customer are saying:

Most of the other hats on our list can be adjusted or positioned to relieve migraine pain on the top of your head, but none of them specifically target that area. But the IceBeanie does without requiring any special positioning or constant readjustments. Often confused with migraine, sinus headaches co-occur with sinus infection symptoms like fever, stuffy nose, cough, congestion, and facial pressure. A 2018 survey found that sinus infections affect about 11.6% of adults. There’s no one mask that will work for every type of person with migraine, but the TheraICE Form Fitting Head Gel Ice Cap gets as close as possible to being the best choice for nearly everyone.