Should You Try Sleeping Naked? Here’s the Truth

Written by Abby McCoy, Health Writer, RN

Methodology

At Sleepopolis, we’re constantly monitoring new sleep health developments in order to keep our articles as up-to-date and accurate as possible.

Just Updated

This article has been updated to reflect more recent consensus around sleeping naked.

If you’ve ever tried sleeping naked, you may be hooked. Sliding into crisp sheets at the end of a long day offers a relaxing and pleasant experience for anyone, but some claim it feels that much better in the nude. Some experts warn against sleeping without a stitch, and below, we’ll dig into some details and find the answers.

Note: The content on Sleepopolis is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldn’t be taken as medical advice, and it shouldn’t take the place of medical advice and supervision from a trained professional. If you feel you may be suffering from any sleep disorder or medical condition, please see your healthcare provider immediately. 

Benefits of Sleeping Naked

Sleeping naked can offer plenty of health and wellness benefits beyond that incredible skin-against-clean-sheets feeling — like better sleep, glowing skin, soaring confidence, and maybe even less stress. Not only is naked sleeping potentially good for you, it’s also a super easy lifestyle change to make.

Improves Sleep Quality 

Wearing clothes while you sleep can sometimes keep you too warm for good sleep. Sleep experts often advise keeping your bedroom or sleeping space at a cool temperature (between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit), and for good reason. (1) (2)

Studies show it’s harder to fall asleep when your body’s hot —  a cool atmosphere is much more conducive to falling asleep quickly, and your body naturally works through thermoregulation to keep your temperature cooler to catch more zzzs. (3) (4)

Beyond staying cool, skipping the PJs can mean no constriction or getting your pajamas twisted or tugged throughout the night. It can also help those who may feel claustrophobic wearing clothes on top of being wrapped up in their bedding. (5)

Physically, this can mean fewer interruptions and waking up in the night. One last bonus? It may help women avoid pesky menopause-related hot flashes when they’d rather be snoozing! (6)

Enhances Skin Health

The fabric of your pajamas and how tight they fit can irritate your skin, prevent air from reaching it, and make you sweat. (7) Too much coverage and heat can even cause a rash, so sleeping naked may help prevent these symptoms and let beauty sleep do its job — just make sure you’re washing your bedding regularly to keep up with general hygiene practices. (8)

Promotes Weight Loss and Metabolism

Staying cool for sleep can also boost your metabolism, which can promote weight loss. (5) (9) When your body gets chilly and wants to warm up, it activates your brown fat, which is different from the “white” fat you can pinch around your middle. Brown fat breaks down sugars and unhealthy fats to warm you up, which can prevent weight gain,, Daniella Marchetti, PhD, clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral sleep medicine tells Sleepopolis. (10) (11)

“This is a benefit that can be derived by sleeping naked or by wearing cool and loose-fitting pajamas,” Marchetti adds. Recent research doesn’t offer rock-solid evidence sleeping naked can shed pounds directly, but the process above suggests it may help. (9)

Reduces Stress 

Do you ever feel foggy and gross when you get too hot? Well, trying to sleep warm can amp up your stress and steal your sleep. (5) “Sleeping naked may reduce stress if it leads to fewer sleep disturbances that can be brought on by warmer temperatures,” says Marchetti. “However, there are more direct ways to improve sleep quality and stress management.” (12)

Boosts Confidence and Body Positivity

Being naked for any period of time may bolster your body confidence and self-esteem. In one study, 51 people split into two groups: a naked group and a clothed group. 

The naked group found they felt less self-conscious and appreciated their body more, no matter their body type. The sample size is small, but you never know — maybe sleeping in the nude could help you feel more connected to and positive about your own bod. (13) 

Strengthens Relationships and Intimacy

If you sleep with a partner, sleeping naked could give your intimacy a boost. While this may sound obvious to some, it actually gets a bit more “science-y.” According to some older research, skin-to-skin contact between couples may stimulate the release of oxytocin — the “love hormone,” which can foster more attachment toward your partner, says Marchetti. (14)

Supports Vaginal Health and Male Fertility 

Some experts suggest women sleep naked or without tight underwear in order to avoid yeast infections. (15) If your underwear fits too tight, it can hold in heat and moisture, which increases your risk for yeast infections. Keeping that furnace cooler by sleeping nude (or in looser undergarments) can lower that risk (16)

Men get benefits from loose or no sleep clothes, too. Tight underwear can lower your sperm counts, so leaving that area loose and free may boost fertility. (17)

Drawbacks of Sleeping Naked 

While all of those benefits sound great, what are the cons of sleeping naked? Let’s dive in.

Bedroom Sanitation

Sleeping naked may not keep your sheets as clean as they should be. “A major drawback to sleeping nude is that now your mattress and sheets are the first line of defense against moisture and bacteria,” says Marchetti. 

When you have no barrier between your skin and bedding, dirt, dander, dust, oil, sweat, and even fecal particles from nighttime gas-passing can collect quicker. (18) “People tend to wash their pajamas more frequently than their sheets, so sleeping in loose-fitting pajamas may be the preferable choice,” says Marchetti.

Vulnerability

Some people simply enjoy the coziness and coverings of pajamas or other sleepwear. You may feel vulnerable when not wearing nightclothes, which can lead to a bad night’s rest. It’s important to feel at ease with a clear mind in order to increase your chances of a healthy slumber.  (12) (19)

Surprise Situations

A nighttime emergency is never a fun time, but dealing with that situation naked may make it even more of a bummer. If you sleep in the nude, you need to be ready for an event to pop up and be ok with being naked at that moment. 

If a roommate or family member rushes into your room, a fire engulfs your home, or you end up sleepwalking (which is more common than you may think), you may not want to be naked in those moments. It could be worth considering keeping a robe or sweatpants nearby to throw on in a pinch.

Chilly Temperatures

It’s also worth mentioning that you don’t want to get too cold at night. “While being cool is beneficial for slumber, sleepers also shouldn’t run cold. Excessive cold can hamper sleep as much as excessive heat can,” says Marchetti. Instead, you can experiment with different breathable sleepwear fabrics — one small study suggests wool works best. (20)

Things to Consider Before Making the Switch 

If you want to try sleeping in the nude, the pros and cons above can help you decide. You can also ask yourself these questions and consider your answers.

• Are you prone to yeast infections? Sleeping naked might help prevent them.
• Do you have a sleep partner? Talk it over with them and make sure they’re on board.
• Do you sleepwalk? You may want to consider how naked you get for your midnight stroll.
• Would you be okay with running out of a burning house naked? If not, you can keep a robe nearby.

Remember, sleeping naked doesn’t require signing any sort of contract or commitment. You can give it a chance for a night or two and see how it goes. 

Tips For Sleeping Naked 

Sleeping naked doesn’t come in an all-or-nothing package. You can sleep with underwear on, or just a light shirt. If you go full nude, we have some tips to make it work. 

Buy comfy sheets that feel great on your skin and invest in a warm comforter. Also, remember to go at your own pace — don’t feel pressure to sleep completely naked right away.

Keep some clothes nearby you can throw on in an emergency, and wash your bedding at least once a week. Talk to your sleeping partner about your plan — they may want to join you!

You have full control over your clothing situation at bedtime. Do what feels good and see how your sleep improves.

FAQs

The Last Word From Sleepopolis  

Sleeping naked can offer benefits like more confidence, stronger bonds with your partner, faster falling asleep, vaginal health, and maybe even weight loss. On the other hand, sleeping nude can lead to dirtier sheets, worse sleep from feeling vulnerable, and the possibility of surprise nighttime situations. Sleeping naked is easy to try and easy to stop, so there aren’t many drawbacks to ditching the PJs for a time and seeing how you like it!

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