It’s not easy to fall asleep—and stay that way—when it’s hot and humid. While you can slip into your tiniest tank top and boy shorts, you should really consider sleeping naked. Whether you’ve got a bed to yourself or share one with a partner, ditching your clothes before catching some zzz’s can bring both physical and mental health benefits.
With summer in full swing, there’s no better time to ditch your PJs for something that’s a million times more breathable: nothing. Here are five legit reasons you should try sleeping naked.
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1. You’ll get a better night’s sleep.
If you’re sweating throughout the night, there’s a good chance you won’t be comfortable and your sleep will be interrupted. The National Sleep Foundation suggests catching your zzz’s in a room that’s between 60 and 67 degrees. Sleeping in the nude will eliminate an extra layer and help you stay cool—just make sure you’ve got breathable cotton sheets. Heavy fibers like silk can make things a little too sweaty, Rachel Salas, M.D., an associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins Medicine who specializes in sleep medicine, tells SELF. Skimping on sleep can impact every aspect of your health, so doing whatever you can to get more of it will benefit you in countless ways.
2. It’ll keep your vagina happy.
“Especially in women with recurrent vaginitis/vaginosis, ‘airing out’ the vagina at night is a good idea,” Michael Cackovic, M.D., an ob/gyn at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, tells SELF. The tight, moist environment inside your undies can be abreeding ground for yeast and bacteria. Most gynos recommend wearing cotton underwear daily because it’s lightweight and lets your vagina breathe, but going commando every now and then is a good idea, too. Especially if you keep your lady parts cooped up in skintight clothing all day long.
3. It can help soothe your skin problems.
“Clothing, especially tight or fitted clothing, can cause friction or irritation as it rubs against the skin while you are sleeping, potentially worsening skin conditions characterized by inflammation and irritation,” Sejal Shah, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and RealSelf advisor, tells SELF. Plus, when sweat that gets trapped in your PJs it creates a warm, moist environment—the perfect breeding ground for yeast and fungus, Shah adds. If you have eczema, psoriasis, or any other skin condition, it’s worth seeing if sleeping sans clothing provides some relief.
4. It makes bed time so much sexier.
If you share a bed with someone, sleeping without clothes just makes bedtime sexier and sex way easier. When you’re both crawling into bed totally naked, chances are you’ll squeeze in a little bit of sexy time before you doze off. All that skin-to-skin contact is hard to ignore, no matter how tired you are.
5. You’ll feel more confident.
“Sleeping naked creates a freeing and confident feeling,” Stacy Nadeau, Dove self-esteem expert and women’s empowerment ambassador, tells SELF. “There’s something about not covering up that makes me feel beautiful. When women feel beautiful, we radiate happiness and confidence, so if it helps, why not sleep naked?”
