Those who sleep naked are often firm believers in its benefits. Whether it’s because they don’t like to get tangled in clothes while they sleep or get too hot with the extra layers on, sleeping naked offers an alternative that, for those who opt for it, often makes it impossible to reconsider wearing clothes to bed again.
However, can sleeping naked help you sleep better? By improving your comfort, it’s entirely possible; let’s explore how that is and if it’s something you should give a try.
The Effect of Body Temperature on Sleep
When it comes to the benefits of sleeping naked, they primarily stem from the increased comfort it provides, especially in regard to keeping you from overheating. There’s a reason why one of the most common recommendations for better sleep is to keep your room at a lower temperature; it’s because temperature is a significant decider of how well you sleep.
Our circadian rhythm regulates our bodies, and one way that it accomplishes this is by cycling through heating and cooling our internal temperature.
As you approach night, your body temperature decreases, which continues during the night as your body becomes less active. This is why our bodies need a cooler environment at night and why being too warm can interfere with your sleep. Not only can it keep you awake due to discomfort, but being too warm can signal to your body that it’s time to wake up, even if it’s still the middle of the night.
There are many ways that you can control your temperature while you sleep. One way is to sleep without blankets, but since many prefer the comfort of blankets, sleeping naked can offer a way to enjoy a thick and warm comforter without overheating.
Does Sleeping Naked Help You Sleep Better?
Time to dig into the big question: does sleeping naked offer any benefits for your sleep?
Direct research into the benefits of sleeping naked for your sleep is minimal, but there are some ways that sleeping naked may improve your sleep, including:
- Fall asleep faster. Your internal body temperature plays a big role in how easily you fall asleep because of its contributions to your circadian rhythm. Not only does your body cool in preparation for sleep, but lower temperatures can also signal to your body that it’s time to sleep. Thus, sleeping naked, and the lower body temperature you’ll have as a result, may help you fall asleep faster.
- Sleep better. Temperature also influences how well you sleep, and one study even suggests that it is the most important factor for good quality sleep. This is because a temperature that is too hot or cold can impact your rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is when your brain and body refresh. When you’re at a comfortable sleeping temperature, you get more deep sleep and wake up feeling restored.
- Reduces stress and anxiety. Have you ever been unable to fall asleep because your mind won’t turn off? It’s a common problem, and sleeping naked may help, especially if you sleep with a partner and can get in some skin-to-skin contact.
Additional Benefits of Sleeping Naked
It’s not just your sleep that may benefit from sleeping naked; the following areas can also see a boost:
Skin Health
This one ties into sleeping naked’s ability to improve your sleep because the more you sleep, the more time your skin has to regenerate and repair wounds, and the better your skin looks.
Not getting enough sleep can leave you more susceptible to wrinkles, dark circles, and drooping skin. Furthermore, sleep factors into our wound healing abilities, meaning cuts and blisters may linger for longer if you don’t get enough sleep.
If sleeping naked helps you sleep better, it may also improve the appearance of your skin.
Vaginal Health
Inadequate air circulation can increase your risk of a yeast infection, and the most common culprit is tight or synthetic underwear. When yeast infections occur, it’s due to an overgrowth of Candida yeast, which can inflame the mucous membrane of your vagina and cause itching and pain—two unpleasant symptoms, especially “down there.”
By foregoing underwear, you avoid the constricting environment that Candida thrives in, which can help prevent a yeast infection, offering better vaginal health.
Male Fertility
While this connection has not been directly studied, sleeping naked may help male fertility. Research has shown that wearing tight underwear can increase the scrotum’s temperature, which can then decrease sperm count and vitality, leading to infertility. Wearing boxers over tighter-fitting underwear offers the potential to impact sperm concentration, and sleeping naked can provide this same cooling freedom to the scrotal area.
Improved Relationships
Sleeping naked with a partner may help to increase your connection, and research shows that partners who engage in skin-to-skin contact are more likely to feel less stressed. This is likely because skin-to-skin contact releases oxytocin, a feel-good hormone that promotes relaxation through feelings of safety and love.
Tips for Sleeping Naked
Ready to give this sleeping option a try? Here are some tips to get you started so that you can sleep comfortably:
- Invest in comfortable, temperature-regulating sheets and bedding. The goal of sleeping naked is to keep you cool, so let your sheets and bedding help, too.
- Change or wash your sheets at least once a week.
- Shower before bed to keep your sheets clean.
You can also combine sleeping naked with other tips to keep you cool at night, including turning the thermostat down to 66-70 degrees, using a fan at night, and taking a warm bath before bed (surprisingly, this can help cool you down!).
Ultimately, whether or not you should see if sleeping naked improves your sleep is up to you. If you feel hot all night and can’t sleep because of it, sleeping naked may be something to try. If you live with others, though, you may be hesitant about sleeping naked, especially if you have young children who make their way into your room during the night. Additionally, if you’re a sleepwalker, you may want to keep underwear on, just in case.
Just remember, there’s no harm in trying—if you like it, you can continue to sleep naked, and if you don’t, your pajamas will be there waiting for you. But if you don’t try, you’ll never know if sleeping naked is your key to a better night of sleep.
